Don't you give up my young young friend   Here's a story I think will please   How sir rastus bear was in fact redeemed   Redeemed from the cell to which he'd been thrown   By men whose love was more for the ice and cold      Goblins of surcease, villains of wise   They pranced your brain all through the long long night   Sir rastus bear who'd ever believe   You'd be by a song redeemed?       Up on the north forty, I'm sure it was christmas day   When sir rastus bear taught children how to play   Games of life and love, and songs, oh, those songs   Oh those deep but true, healed (? ) country songs      Goblins of surcease, villains of wise   They pranced your brain all through the long long night   Sir rastus bear who'd ever believe   You'd be by a song redeemed?       Redeemed, good lord, from the ice and cold   Redeemed from the cell to which I've been thrown   Redeemed by virtue, of a country song   And I believe that lord, it won't be long