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When they carried you into the parlor |
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Your wounds were the worst I'd seen |
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Cold as snow as your body trembled |
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Cradled in the arms of morphine |
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All the kinfolk cried out loud |
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"Good Shepherd save this man" |
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But you whispered with icy breath |
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"It is not in His hands," and you said |
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"Heaven ain't ready for me yet," and you looked at me |
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"Give me your heart and take a bet," and you held my hand |
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"Now I've seen your face, now that we've met |
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"I shall not slip away" |
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Mama said to me, "daughter |
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"You must nurse your cousin well" |
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So I cared for you through days and nights |
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But your fever I did not quell |
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For weeks I watched you suffer pain |
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That no laudanum could ease |
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All I had left to do is pray |
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"Lord have mercy on him please," and you said |
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"Heaven ain't ready for me yet," and you looked at me |
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"Give me your heart and take a bet," and you held my hand |
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"Now I've seen your face, now that we've met |
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"I shall not slip away" |
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Now winter's lights has cooled the air |
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At last your strength's returned |
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You talk to me of the life you spent |
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And of the life you've earned |
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You'll waste no time on vengeance |
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You've no wish to fight again |
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"To find peace," you say, "In God we trust |
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"But little faith in Man" |
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Heaven aint' ready for you yet, Jesse |
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I'll give you my heart, I'll take a bet, Jesse |
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Now I've seen your face, now that we've met |
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I shall not slip away |