[Verse 1]
The chosen ones are walking through the new desert
All the way uptown to Riverside
The faces of the fathers, they look a lot like mine
But I watch 'em from across a great divide

[Verse 2]
Today they have all been forgiven
Washed clean before another year begins
Me, I'm playing in the park with my children
And I pray they forgive me my sins

[Chorus]
This is my sanctuary
On this High Holy Day
I lay down the burdens I carry
In my sanctuary

[Verse 3]
The forgotten ones were screaming from the rooftops
A thousand souls had all been washed away
Everyone was told the levee wouldn't hold
And now the mourners, they're marching everyday

[Verse 4]
And the music keeps right on playing
But of all the places water wouldn't fall
It wasn't the churches or the chapels
No, it was down at the Preservation Hall
[Chorus]
"This is my sanctuary"
You could almost hear the ghost of some old trumpet player say
"Lay down the burdens you carry
In my sanctuary" (Lay 'em down)

[Verse 5]
The chosen ones are all still searching
Waiting for the savior to appear
While you and me, we congregate in mystery
And I listen to you whisper in my ear

[Chorus]
This is my sanctuary
Brothers and sisters let us pray
I lay down the burdens I carry
In my sanctuary
I lay down the burdens I carry
In my sanctuary (Yeah)

[Outro]
My sanctuary
My sanctuary
My sanctuary, whoa, whoa
My sanctuary, whoa, whoa
My sanctuary, whoa, whoa
My sanctuary, whoa, whoa (Yeah)
My sanctuary, whoa, whoa
My sanctuary, whoa, whoa
My sanctuary, whoa, whoa
My sanctuary, whoa, whoa
My sanctuary