v.1
^-- Look out, Mama, there's a ^Cwhite boat comin' up the ^Griver
With a ^Cbig red beacon and a flag and a man on the ^Grail
I think you ^Cbetter call John 'cause it don't look like they're here to de^Bmliver the ^Cmail
And it's ^Bmless than a mile ^Caway, I ^Bmhope they didn't come to ^Cstay
It's got ^Bmnumbers on the side and a ^Cgun and it's makin' big ^Dwaves

v.2
Daddy's gone, my brother's out huntin' in the mountains
Big John's been drinkin' since the river took Emmy Lou
So the powers that be left me here to do the thinkin'
An I just turned twenty-two, I was wonderin' what to do
The closer they got the more those feelings grew

Instr. Brk.

v.3
Daddy's rifle in my hands felt re-assuring
He told me red means run, son, numbers add up to nothin'
But when the first shot hit the dock 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

Instr. Brk.

v.4
Shelter me from the powder and the finger
Cover me with the thought that I pulled the trigger
Just think of me as one you never figured
Would fade away so young, with so much left undone
Remember me to my love, I know I'll miss her