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
And my throat was needin’ booze
After six days long days down in the mine
That Appaloosa roan many nights had brought me home
After nippin’ on the whiskey or the wine

The bar at 5th and Pearl
Had a brand new dancin’ girl
and I tossed a shiny dollar at her feet
She took with a grin, said my name is Janie Lynn
If you’re buyin whiskey then I’ll drink it neat

And I said good to know you Janie darlin’
I’ve 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 yelling in the street
That yankee Bill Sinclair had grabbed her by the hair
And I was watching when he knocked her off her feet

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
That 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”