Powderfinger

Look out mama theres a white boat comin up the river

With a big red beacon and a flag and a man on the rail

I think youd better call john

Cause it dont look like theyre here to deliver the mail

And its less than a mile away

I hope they didnt come to stay

Its got numbers on the side and a gun

And its makin big waves

Daddys gone my brothers out hunting in the mountains

Big johns been drinking since the river took emmy-lou

So the powers that be left me here to do the thinkin

And I just turned twenty-two

I was wonderin what to do

And the closer they got

The more those feelings grew

Daddys rifle in my hand felt reassurin

He told me red means run son numbers add up to nothin

But when the first shot hit the docks I saw it comin

Raised my rifle to my eye

Never stopped to wonder why

Then I saw black

And my face splashed in the sky

Shelter me from the powder and the finger

Cover me with the thought that pulled the trigger

Think of me as one youd never figured

Would fade away so young

With so much left undone

Remember me to my love

I know Ill miss her