Queen of Iowa

I met the queen of Iowa She was dying on a couch in the suburbs And with all of the things she was dying of She was more alive than the others She was pretty as a flower in a crystal vase It lights up the room as it withers away And she opened her eyes When she heard the music play We sang a hymn to the rhythm of the river that flows Down from the mountain of the Holy Ghost And into the souls Of those who know His name Like the Queen of Iowa She was the Queen of Iowa Her majesty was all ablaze She was burning hot but not consumed Our shoes removed in that holy place In the hallowed ground of the living room I bowed down low and I kissed her hand And we raised a toast to the Promised Land And I saw the tears of joy Run down her face We sang a hymn to the rhythm of the river that flows Down from the mountain of the Holy Ghost And into the souls Of those who know His name Like the Queen of Iowa (Peace like a river in a valley of bones It fills the valley up and it carries them home) She was the Queen of Iowa (Bridge) I could see my illusions scatter Every time she drew a breath I could see the heart of the matter: The heart is a matter of life and death I'll never be the same We sang about oceans of love again As she stared past the ceiling and the sky above Two court musicians, it was me and Ben We were singing for the Queen of Iowa We sang a hymn to the rhythm of the river that flows Down from the mountain of the Holy Ghost And into the souls Of those who know His name There was peace like a river in a valley of bones It fills the valley up and it carries them home To come alive again In the river of Grace Like the Queen of Iowa (Peace like a river in a valley of bones It fills the valley up and it carries them home) She was the Queen of Iowa Long live the Queen of Iowa --- Queen Of Iowa - Andrew Peterson