Boy From Lawrence County

All these pills and powder could not make me stay

I'm on my merry way in the morning light

Cold New England winters have got me coughing

As the Lincoln turns down Memory Street

"Tell me Judge. what's the bounty

On that boy from Lawrence County?

He's a friend of mine

If I had a way to trap him

Would you swear to pay up CAptain?

He's a friend of mine"

The door swang slowly open

The committee room was dark

The bailiff marked the chairs in red

Recalled a boy in orange as he slowly passes

Awkward as a calf with it's legs wobbling

"Be so kind, tell me warden

Who's in line to die this morning?

Could I see the show?

If he bore his teeth to scare us

Would we see our likeness sheriff

In the pearly glow?"

Roll on old silver river through the Iron Range

Past the sleeping trains that wait

Gold and amber peddles in your water wade

Like the hand of Jesse James in wait

Rain it beats the window, makes it hard to see

Who's on a drunken spree in the city lights

Silent are the dying, silent are the young

And it's silent where I'm from

"Tell me love of your husband

Will we see his headlights coming?

Will he know it's us?

When his tired eyes have lifted

Will he see your bed has shifted?

Is he bad at love?"

"I got the money that I owe you

Something else to show you

Could you meet me there?

Take the road out past the station

To the river basin

I'll be waiting there"

All these pills and powder

Could not make me stay

I'm on my merry way in the morning light

All these dying matadors in dusty rings

Have killed my will to sing

And I'm gone

Tell me Judge, what's the bounty

On that boy from Lawrence County?

He's a friend of mine

If I had a way to trap him

Would you swear to pay up Captain?

He's a friend of mine