Long, Black Road Into Tulsa Town

well i gotta world of trouble in mind, the pilgrim said
need somethin' to believe in, or someone to be
i got a mountain of worries just pilin' up inside my head
it's a curse of the worst kind for a dreamer like me

so he climbed up alone on the turkey mountain ridge
he looked out at the people on the plain
and he saw god that night in the sleepy river and the city lights
but he felt like a loser just the same

states of misery, states of grace
trouble and joy on a young man's face
swing low, sweet chariot, take me down
that long, black road into tulsa town

well i gotta roll these tumblin' dice again, he sighed
leave it up to good fortune, and the draw and the deal
i gotta put my life out on that table and just let it ride
slip away from these hounds of love that nip at my heels

but over on the back porch in the early mornin' rain
sits a girl with a mirror in her smile
insubstantial is the summer breeze as it
disappears into the trees
but she holds his eye for a little while

states of misery, states of grace
trouble and joy on a young man's face
swing low, sweet chariot, take me down
that long, black road into tulsa town

one dreamer got a job someplace, they say he got his life on track
one dreamer got married, they say he sleeps in the sun
one dreamer got strung out young, you know he never really did bounce back
one dreamer got a second chance, and others got none

this dreamer's sittin' on a park bench in a city faraway
and he tells you the stories of his youth
forcin' a laugh, makin' a joke out of
bein' lonesome and silly and broke
but he still makes room for a little truth

states of misery, states of grace
trouble and joy on a young man's face
swing low, sweet chariot, take me down
that long, black road into tulsa town

swing low, sweet chariot, take me down
that long, black road into tulsa
into tulsa town