Run, Jeannie, Run

I was born a way back in the hills in a shack
The oldest child of ten
On one hot and sultry day mama got sick and passed away
Givin' birth to baby brother Ben.

I stood there and I cried as I watched my mama die
I guess I was too young to understand
Papa didn't shed a tear or even really seemed to care
I thought it was because he was a man.

When mama was laid to rest pa said Jeannie do your best
I'm leavin' but I won't be gone long
The town was many miles away where papa seemed to wanna stay
So soon after mama had gone.

Then it was work Jeannie work Jeannie work Jeannie work
The hard times had just begun
Yes it's work Jeannie work, Jeannie work, Jeannie work
For Jeannie there was no fun.

Papa started drinkin' wine and chasin' women all the time
And livin' off the fat of the land
We children did the best we could milked the cows and chopped the wood
And ate what mama left us canned.

One day the sheriff walked in to notify the next of kin
Papa was run over by a train
It had been almost a year since papa left us here
We were sorry but really felt no pain.

The sheriff said that day children can't live this way
Said he'd send someone to take us into town
That night I said goodbye my little brothers and sisters cried
But I ran away so far I'd not be found.

And now it's run, Jeannie run, Jeannie run, Jeannie run
Jeannie's gonna find some fun
Yeah, it's run, Jeannie run, Jeannie run, Jeannie run
Run and find you some fun...