Arlene, I'm sorry for what I've done
I wasn't looking for love till I saw
Your red hair in the sun
What we had could never be love
That was easy to see
But when I saw you at Red's pouring coffee
Something took a hold of me
Arlene, you wouldn't even let me hold your hand
When I stopped you in the road you just screamed and ran
That night I decided I was gonna marry you

My knife went through your screen door
And I went away with you
You were singing "Please let me go"
All the way down to Miller's cave
When I picked a stick up off the ground
You cried "I ain't ready for my grave!"
Oh, Arlene, in the dark your hair's just as red
And this long, dark cave will always be our wedding bed.