The Mayflower’s Crossing

Sixteen-twenty…
Yeah…
They didn’t want a crown over their prayers

Back in England, church and king
Said “one belief, one everything”
But these folks read a different line
Said “God alone owns this heart of mine”
Called ‘em trouble, called ‘em wrong
Fines and prisons didn’t take long
So they packed their faith, left home behind

Gonna sail that Mayflower sky
Yeah, they knew they might just die
Didn’t go for gold or fame
Just to call on God by name
Gonna sail that Mayflower sky
Hands together, hearts held high
For the right to pray out loud
They left the king, they left the crown

From Scrooby fields to Leiden town
Tried to live without the crown
But their children slipped away
Different tongue, a foreign way
So they said, “Let’s take the chance
Cross the sea, trust Providence”
One hundred souls, a wooden hull
Cold Atlantic, dark and full

Gonna sail that Mayflower sky
Storms below and faith up high
Sixty-six days, wind and rain
Freedom worth the hurt and pain
Gonna sail that Mayflower sky
No turning back, no alibi
For the right to worship free
They bet it all on destiny

Who’s your king?
— Not a throne
Who rules your soul?
— God alone
How you gonna live this land?
— Side by side, hand in hand

Before they touched that frozen sand
They signed the law with their own hands
No bishop’s chain, no royal say
“We govern us the honest way”
Cape Cod wind, a winter bite
Half were gone by springtime light
But Plymouth stood, a fragile flame
Helped by friends we still should name

Gonna sail that Mayflower sky
Through the cold, through the cry
Didn’t claim perfection then
Just conscience, law, and common men
Gonna sail that Mayflower sky
From that ink, a world went wide
Freedom didn’t fall from grace

Yeah, they weren’t saints
They weren’t strong
Just believers holdin’ on
But they aimed their lives that way
Toward a freedom…
Yeah…
That still sails today