I was raised in the Sallisaw Hills
Momma stayed at home and daddy worked the fields
We was always living just like the rest
But back then it was only living at best
[Verse 2]
I was 18, well I left home
For a tent colony up in Colorado
Good pay for men mining up the coal
At the end of the day we were just digging holes
[Chorus]
Oh Roberta Jean I don't feel much like dancing
Wish to God you'd just leave me alone
Got the feeling that I don't need no one around
I'm gonna go to the river, I'm gonna lay my burdens down
[Verse 3]
Then one night I was hanging with the gang
Half past ten and the messenger came
Daddy was a-calling from the panhandle line
Telling me that my momma had died
[Verse 4]
Two months later in the Ludlow camp
The union ran deep and a strike was planned
Baby you know how these things end
When a whisper is a shout and a handshake is a fist
[Chorus]
[verse 5]
Took a bullet in the arm and I was through with it
The death special rolled in, I just split
Gambling up your life just to work it away
Ain't worth the blood on your hands and the $2 pay
[Verse 6]
Took the clothes on my back and I headed out East
Working on the docks and reveling in the streets
Got mixed up with another man's wife
Was on the killing end of a Colt .45
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
So wash me as white as the snow
As pure as the lamb
Shroud me in the cloth, oh Lord
Take me as I am, oh as I am
Show less
[Verse 1] I was raised in the Sallisaw Hills Momma stayed at home and daddy worked the fields We was always living just like the rest But back then it was only living at best [Verse 2] I was 18, well I left home For a tent colony up in Colorado Good pay for men mining up the coal At the end of the day we were just digging holes [Chorus] Oh Roberta Jean I don't feel much like dancing Wish to God you'd just leave me alone Got the feeling that I don't need no one around I'm gonna go to the river, I'm gonna lay my burdens down [Verse 3] Then one night I was hanging with the gang Half past ten and the messenger came Daddy was a-calling from the panhandle line Telling me that my momma had died [Verse 4] Two months later in the Ludlow camp The union ran deep and a strike was planned Baby you know how these things end When a whisper is a shout and a handshake is a fist [Chorus] [verse 5] Took a bullet in the arm and I was through with it The death special rolled in, I just split Gambling up your life just to work it away Ain't worth the blood on your hands and the $2 pay [Verse 6] Took the clothes on my back and I headed out East Working on the docks and reveling in the streets Got mixed up with another man's wife Was on the killing end of a Colt .45 [Chorus] [Bridge] So wash me as white as the snow As pure as the lamb Shroud me in the cloth, oh Lord Take me as I am, oh as I am Show less Explain Request ×
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