Well if both of these horses just a lay up and die,
He thinks to himself as he stares into the sun.
His companion's been bleedin' and is weepin' to himself,
Thinking oh my sweet sue,
I won't be a comin' home now.

As them train tracks keep runnin' up that ever gentle slope,
Margaret Anne hangs her head,
And just keeps wondering what's good.
Her companions been bleedin' and is weepin' to himself
Thinking oh my sweet sue,
I won't be a comin' home now.

That day that the rain came and just rose the flag of war,
Mother Jones lays in bed, his children lyin' on the floor.
And she got by, standin' in the churchyard singing hallelujah,
Sweepin' out the bats from the bells of her voice.

Who is she?
I am the river and I will take you to the see.
And we got by,
Floating, in the water singing, hallelujah,
Waiting, on the lord,
To bring us back home.
You left us too soon,
And I, I know what you'll do.

Someone knocks in the back at the door.
Oh, Why'd you come?
Were you lookin' for more?
Don't speak.

Then the sharp steel rattle of your head on the floor.
Oh, it got lost in the sound of the war.
Don't stay.

Someone knocks in the back at the door.
Oh, Why'd you come?
Were you lookin' for more?
Don't speak.

Then the sharp steel rattle of your head on the floor.
Oh, it got lost in the sound of the war.
Don't leave.

And, oh, you left us too soon.
Now there's two men ridin' up,
Both wonderin' who is he.
One says sir, I've observed you ridin' up behind'a me.
Now them children hear em headed up around the bend,
Crying, Ma, best come on, here come our fathers back to bed.