You River which art free
O that men and women would long to sit in your bosom free indeed
Do we crave freedom or not?
Who will set you free O river of mine?
I weep for you O mighty river
My love for you is wide - the width of my heart spans the banks
And how can one such as I enfold such breadth? By endearment, by pain, by blood,
By roots or by devotion?
You River my Louisiana
You gave birth to me - my homeland of freedom
Strecthed out in the freest of Nations the earth has known
Many are we who sit on your banks and taste of your freedom
Many are we who glory in splendor
And trod down your muddy banks
Weeping and carrying our seed with us
Shall we indeed come again?
River, what happened to you pearl of the coastlands?
Your mouth has become unclean and your harlotries a stench
You have opened wide your legs like a women lacking sense
And your banks have been like an open grave with the scoffing of those peering in
Yet how I love you Louisiana my River
May your ports never close
And your glory again swell with the fruit of the Nations
O that the honor of the Nations might dwell here...my Homeland
Now return - Return Louisiana to the Guardian of your banks
The light of your mouth has been crimson too long
Let it be illumined with light as white as an angels breast
Like one who stands in the midst of the golden lamp stands
Passionate pop;e who have resided here - the French, the Spanish, the English,
The Irish, the Germans, the Africans and Indians too...
Say to you Louisiana O River
You're an unfinished tale
You've not been lost to the sea nor heard for the last
Your voice will be lifted up and your instruments restrung
A song of freedom for all the Nations