by Alex Wilson
Album
Floodplain Ballads
Year
2025
Genre
Americana/Gospel/Folk/Singer-Songwriter
Duration
4:18
Description
A deeply moving Americana gospel song about resilience and faith in the face of devastating floods. 'High-Ground Hallelujah' features Alex Wilson's soulful vocals, supported by a rich tapestry of acoustic instruments, including fingerpicked guitar, gentle organ swells, soft piano chords, and subtle pedal steel melodies. The song builds gradually, introducing close harmonies in the chorus and a restrained banjo line in the bridge, creating a warm, spiritual atmosphere. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of loss and hope, emphasizing community and the search for higher ground, both literal and metaphorical.
Lyrics
[Verse 1] Water licked the porch-rail, climbed to kiss the window-pane Took my photographs and songbooks, left the rafters rust-stained But even when the river swallows every word I ever knew There’s a higher ground that’s callin’, and I’m walkin’ there with you [Chorus] Hallelujah on the hillside, hallelujah in the mud When the night sky cracks with thunder and the creek turns into blood Raise a lantern to your neighbor, let the lost ones see it too High-ground hallelujah—I’ll sing it home with you [Verse 2] Mama’s Bible’s water-wrinkled, pages stuck in Revelation Daddy’s boots float by like ghosts of coal-dust generations But the sparrow’s still rejoicin’ on the single line of wire If that feathered thing keeps singin’, then this heart can stoke a fire [Chorus] Hallelujah on the hillside, hallelujah in the mud When the night sky cracks with thunder and the creek turns into blood Raise a lantern to your neighbor, let the lost ones see it too High-ground hallelujah—I’ll sing it home with you [Bridge] We ain’t promised dry land, we ain’t promised gold Just a borrowed breath of mountain air and each other’s hands to hold So let the water rise, let the heavens weep and moan, We’ll find our salvation in this song, this hill, this home. [Chorus] Hallelujah on the hillside, hallelujah in the mud When the night sky cracks with thunder and the creek turns into blood Raise a lantern to your neighbor, let the lost ones see it too High-ground hallelujah—I’ll sing it home with you [Outro] Hallelujah...Hallelujah...Walkin' on higher ground...
Notes
Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar (fingerpicked style), upright bass (arco and pizzicato), brushed snare drums, subtle organ swells (Leslie speaker effect), soft piano chords (sustaining pedal), pedal steel guitar (gentle bends and volume swells), restrained banjo (clawhammer style in bridge), close vocal harmonies (primarily in choruses). Tempo: Slow and deliberate, allowing the emotional weight of the lyrics to resonate. Dynamics: Gradual crescendo throughout the song, building to a powerful, yet restrained final chorus. The banjo in the bridge offers a moment of hopeful levity before the final, powerful reiteration of the chorus. Key: G Major is recommended for its bright and hopeful quality, and suitability for acoustic instruments. Performance Note: Encourage close vocal harmonies. The brushed snare is crucial in delivering a gentle, yet driving rhythm. The banjo is optional, but it should be performed with restraint, reinforcing the hopeful mood without overpowering the other instruments. The outro should gently fade out, leaving the listener with a sense of peace and resilience.