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"