Janie Lynn

High on a bluff of the Arkansas river

Where the eagle cries to the wind

'Neath a moss covered stone lies a box full of bones

And a ring engraved "Janie Lynn"

♪

My horse was needin' shoes, my throat was needin' booze

After six long days down in the mine

That Appaloosa roan many nights had brought me home

After nippin' on the whiskey or the wine

Bar at Fifth and Pearl had a brand new dancin' girl

And I tossed a shiny dollar at her feet

She took it with a grin said, "My name is Janie Lynn

If you're buyin' whiskеy then I'll drink it neat"

And I said, "Good to know you, Janie darlin'

I'vе never seen a woman look so fine

I'd gladly rob and kill from here to Johnsonville

Just to win ten minutes of your time"

Well, I hit the bottle hard and sometime after dark

I heard Janie yellin' in the street

That Yankee Bill Sinclair had grabbed her by the hair

And I was watchin' when he knocked her off her feet

Well, I drew a wicked knife and I took the old man's life

Before I even knew what I had done

I whistled for my roan but the traitor trotted home

And there I was too drunk to even run

I just said, "Are you OK, Janie darlin'?

Have you ever seen a brighter moon?

This may be the last time I get to see it shine

If only I had just walked home with you

♪

Now Janie makes me pray when she visits twice a day

For tomorrow is the day that I will swing

When no one was around and her tears were fallin' down

She handed me her pretty golden ring

And I said, "No more weepin' for me, Janie

There's no turnin' back the hands of time

And anyway it's true that ten minutes with you

Was better than a lifetime in the mine"

High on a bluff of the Arkansas river

Where the eagle cries to the wind

'Neath a moss covered stone lies a box full of bones

And a ring engraved "Janie Lynn"