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