A hard rain is falling
Trouble is clouding my mind
No one's at home waiting for me
And I can't find the reason or rhyme

I hear you sing How I Got Over
And straight into my heart your voice lands
So I move in a little closer
Cause you make me feel like I can

Mahalia, Mahalia, I'm reaching back now to you
Mahalia, Mahalia, you were a woman, too

When you travelled this world
You moved mountains
You answered the call when it came through
But I wonder, did you have a shoulder
To lean on when your long day was through?

Mahalia, Mahalia, I'm reaching back now to you
Mahalia, Mahalia, you were a woman, too

And you gave to a world that never had your back
The balm, the balm, the very Balm of Gilead

Mahalia, oh, Mahalia, I'm reaching back now to you
Mahalia, Mahalia, you were a woman
You were a woman
You you were a woman, too