D***n me clean

[intro] “Y’all come forth now. Strip the sin down to skin. The creek’s callin’. And the burlap’s watchin’.” [Verse 1] White dress draggin’ in the blackmud shore Eyes wide open but she don’t see no more They said she lied, they said she strayed So they dipped her down where the ghosts still wade Hymns outta tune, choir full of crows Preacher got worms where his teeth should grow They say “repent” while the current tugs But it ain’t redemption—it’s a hole fulla bugs Chains for the faithful, burlap robes D***n ‘em in silence till the devil don’t know Bubblin’ breath like a second birth But what comes up ain’t from this earth [chorus] D***n me clean, take my name Bury my face in the water and flame I don’t want light, I don’t want peace I just want the bag and the quiet release D***n me clean, let me sink Wash me away where the b***d don’t stink If I come back wrong, that’s fine by me Long as I come back free [Verse 2] Mama got dipped back in ‘72 Came out smilin’ with her eyes turned blue Ain’t spoke since, just hums and stirs Got crosses carved in her basement furs Uncle got saved with a rope ‘round throat Said he saw the sack floatin’ on a barge of goats Folks cheer loud when the bubbles stop Holy’s just m****r with a cherry on top Moonshine communion, serpent wine You speak in tongues, or you scream in brine They love you more when you break that skin When your lungs fill up and you let it all in [chorus] D***n me clean, take my name Bury my face in the water and flame I don’t want light, I don’t want peace I just want the bag and the quiet release D***n me clean, let me sink Wash me away where the b***d don’t stink If I come back wrong, that’s fine by me Long as I come back free [Outro] “You feel it? That’s your sins swimmin’ out your mouth…” [Outro] “Every soul drowned in my creek walks again…” “They whisper in mud and crawl through kin…” “Don’t pray for dry—pray for deep…” “‘Cause salvation’s just the last breath you keep.”