Well I saw my baby crying one night, When I came home from a long summer's ride, And she said that a man from the city had came, Weilding a pen for her to sign her name. And she says that man's buyin' up all the land, And he wants our farm, just because he can, And my baby thinks we're done for good, But I made her a vow, on the land that we stood. Now why that fat cat, big city man, Is buyin' up land is just because he can, But he doesn't know I'm makin' my stand, And I'll die on this farm, With a gun in my hand. So I went to town just the very next day, To meet with the man, and see what he had to say, Well he shook my hand and sat me right down, Told me owned every bank in the town. Then he gave a speech on progress and gain, And a subtle threat if I wouldn't sign my name, Then I sighed and I said: "If it suits you just fine. I'm keepin' my land, and I've made up my mind." Now why that fat cat, big city man, Is buyin' up land is just because he can, But he doesn't know I'm makin' my stand, And I'll die on this farm, With a gun in my hand. Well the very next night came a gun-wielding gang, My very last chance for me to sign my name, But I stood stock still, rifle in hand, The city man smiled and told me "Thanks for the land." Then I heard a sound that filled me with fear, The click of a gun, right beside my ear. And my baby said we're in hard need of cash, And she'd offered our land when the city man asked, With a single shot she fell to the ground, A city man grinned, and tipped his hat down. Now I'll never know what went through my mind... But the devil himself, Couldn't have shot faster than I.

I heard a whispered name, Across a desert plain, I thought it was your voice I smelled a flower scent, Of wafting violets, But the wind blew it away I saw your flaxen hair, You told me to beware, But still I came your way You said you lived, A life not fit for love, Ooh I tried to give, My heart but you were not done, Ooh I heard a rifle shot, It rings out in the dark, And slowly fades away I smelled a copper tinge, Clothes that had been singed, I knew not what to say I saw your reddened hair, Your body lying there, Never see another day You said you lived, A life not fit for love, Ooh I tried to give, My heart but you were not done, Ooh I heard a whispered name, Across a desert plain, I thought it was your voice I smelled a flower scent, Of wafting violets, But the wind blew it away

Where the garden fence Meets the walking stick, There’s a tumbleweed, With no name Where the tomato plant, Meet the sun-baked brick, There’s a baseball glove, Far from a game Where the hornet’s nest, Meets the river stone, There’s a license plate, From Tennessee And where the home I know, Meets the poisoned bones, That’s where you’ll find, An old man like me There’s something out there, In all that dark Something way out in the dark There’s something out there, In all that dark All that dark. M-hm. And that’s where you’ll find, An old man like me

I am hardly a martyr, But I know right from wrong, But if you'll come and walk with me, We must trek far and long, Past our village we live, There's a secret that's haunting me, And the people all say: "He must have moved away." And the townsfolk all say: "I never heard the name." But we'll find out what's right when we... Dig up the body of Peter tonight. There is something that happened, That the people all know, I believe it's buried underneath this tree, Was a man long ago, In a house by the sea, Found a secret the people keep, And the people all say: "He must have moved away." And the townsfolk all say: "I never heard the bang." But we'll find out what's right when we... Dig up the body of Peter tonight.

In my hands, I hold the ashes In my veins, black pitch runs In my chest, a fire catches In my way, the setting sun Dark clouds gather 'round me Due northwest, the soul is bound And I will go on ahead, free There's a light yet to be found The last pale light in the west The last pale light in the west And I ask for no redemption In this cold and barren place Still I see the faint reflection And so by it, I got my way The last pale light in the west The last pale light in the west