Released: January 13, 1997
Songwriter: Prince
Producer: Prince
[Intro]
Let's go down to the holy river
If we drown then we'll be delivered
[Verse 1]
You can still see the picture upon the wall
One eye staring at nothing at all
The other one trying to focus through all your tears
You can try and try but there's nothing to hide
You can't run from yourself and what's inside
You got to find the answers to the questions that You most fear
[Hook 1]
So over and over you ask your soul
Why'd you come down to a world so cold?
And the voice inside says tonight the truth will be told
[Verse 2]
You surrounded yourself with all the wrong faces
Spending your time in all the wrong places
Putting your faith in things that only make you cry
People say they love you when they want to help
But how can they when you can't help yourself?
The more they say they love you, the more you just want to die
So here we go again, the self-analysis
Have another glass of Port and forget this
The band's playing at the club tonight and they're bound to groove
[Hook 2]
There you are, you think you're high
You can't ask yourself because you'd only lie
If you had a dollar for every time you tried
[Verse 3]
You can't call nobody because they'll tell you straight up
Come and make love when you really hate them
Relationships based on the physical are over and done
They're over and done (They're over and done)
You'd rather have fun
With only one, with only one
Only one... one (one)
[Verse 4]
And then it hit you like a fist on a wall
Who gave you life when there was none at all?
Who gave the sun permission to rise up everyday? (Ooh, oh yes)
Let me tell it (Go on)
If you ask God to love you longer
Every breath you take will make you stronger
Keeping you happy (happy) and proud to call His name (Go on and say it)
Jesus (Jesus)
[Hook 1]
So over and over you ask your soul
Why'd you come down to a world so cold?
And the voice inside says tonight the truth will be told
And this time I was listening, hear me
[Chorus]
Let's go down to the holy river
If we drown then we'll be delivered (Yes we will)
If we don't then we'll never see the light (No)
If you die before you try
You'll have to come back and face the light (Oh yes)
When you believe it, you got a good reason to cry (Oh my, my)
[Verse 5]
So I went on down to the holy river
I called my girl and told her I had something to give her
I asked her to marry me and she said yes, I cried
Oh, that night I drowned in her tears and mine
And instead of a glass of sorrow and wine
Looking back you all, I don't miss nothing except the time
And when I see that picture upon the wall
The one eye staring at nothing at all
My eyes trying to focus but these are much different tears
[Modified Chorus]
Oh, yes they are
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
If we drown then we'll be delivered
[Verse 1]
You can still see the picture upon the wall
One eye staring at nothing at all
The other one trying to focus through all your tears
You can try and try but there's nothing to hide
You can't run from yourself and what's inside
You got to find the answers to the questions that You most fear
[Hook 1]
So over and over you ask your soul
Why'd you come down to a world so cold?
And the voice inside says tonight the truth will be told
[Verse 2]
You surrounded yourself with all the wrong faces
Spending your time in all the wrong places
Putting your faith in things that only make you cry
People say they love you when they want to help
But how can they when you can't help yourself?
The more they say they love you, the more you just want to die
So here we go again, the self-analysis
Have another glass of Port and forget this
The band's playing at the club tonight and they're bound to groove
[Hook 2]
There you are, you think you're high
You can't ask yourself because you'd only lie
If you had a dollar for every time you tried
[Verse 3]
You can't call nobody because they'll tell you straight up
Come and make love when you really hate them
Relationships based on the physical are over and done
They're over and done (They're over and done)
You'd rather have fun
With only one, with only one
Only one... one (one)
[Verse 4]
And then it hit you like a fist on a wall
Who gave you life when there was none at all?
Who gave the sun permission to rise up everyday? (Ooh, oh yes)
Let me tell it (Go on)
If you ask God to love you longer
Every breath you take will make you stronger
Keeping you happy (happy) and proud to call His name (Go on and say it)
Jesus (Jesus)
[Hook 1]
So over and over you ask your soul
Why'd you come down to a world so cold?
And the voice inside says tonight the truth will be told
And this time I was listening, hear me
[Chorus]
Let's go down to the holy river
If we drown then we'll be delivered (Yes we will)
If we don't then we'll never see the light (No)
If you die before you try
You'll have to come back and face the light (Oh yes)
When you believe it, you got a good reason to cry (Oh my, my)
[Verse 5]
So I went on down to the holy river
I called my girl and told her I had something to give her
I asked her to marry me and she said yes, I cried
Oh, that night I drowned in her tears and mine
And instead of a glass of sorrow and wine
Looking back you all, I don't miss nothing except the time
And when I see that picture upon the wall
The one eye staring at nothing at all
My eyes trying to focus but these are much different tears
[Modified Chorus]
Oh, yes they are
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
Let's go down to the holy river
Emancipation
- Jam of the Year
- The Holy River
- Let’s Have A Baby
- Saviour
- Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife
- Slave
- New World
- The Human Body
- Face Down
- La, La, La Means I Love U
- Style
- Sleep Around
- Da Da Da
- My Computer
- One of Us
- The Love We Make
- Emancipation
- Joint 2 Joint
- Dreamin’ About U
- Right Back Here In My Arms
- Somebody’s Somebody
- Get Yo Groove On
- Courtin’ Time
- Betcha By Golly Wow!
- We Gets Up
- White Mansion
- I Can’t Make U Love Me
- Damned If Eye Do
- Mr. Happy
- In This Bed Eye Scream
- Sex In the Summer
- One Kiss at a Time
- Soul Sanctuary
- Curious Child
- Emale
- The Plan
- Emancipation (1996)
- 1999
- Little Red Corvette
- Adore
- Sign O’ the Times
- If I Was Your Girlfriend
- P. Control
- I Wanna Be Your Lover
- Nothing Compares 2 U
- The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
- Head
- Controversy
- When You Were Mine
- Do Me, Baby
- Sister
- Starfish and Coffee
- Soft and Wet
- 1000 X’s & O’S
- The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
- U Got the Look
- Call My Name
- I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
- How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?
- Dirty Mind
- Gold