Down by the Mississippi, buried in the mud

Is a five page oath and a bottle of wine

It's engraved in steel, it's written in blood

As far as I can tell, the blood is mine

I swear and I cry, “I can't let this secret down!”

But it's best to let things lie buried in the ground



Up in the canyon's little leaf ledge

Is my twisted brain and a crying rain

There's a box of lightning, there's a box of lead

But there's a pail of hope next to my bottle of pain



Gov'ner if the sun goes down

Amazing grace I will have found

'Cause I need time to resolve this feud

If I don't have time I might shoot



It's my great granddaddy and my daddy's kin

They fell hell bent towards you and you against him

I don't know you'd better ask them

I don't know why, I don't know how

I just carry on the tradition



Gov'ner if I am so crazy as to raise this here gun

Oh Lord in Heaven have mercy on this one

Mother, rage and hate have made me blind

I carry on, my neighbor, I don't even know why



It's here in the saddle bag, my grandma's gold

I ride to dawn on my lightning mare

It's just like a story that's always been told

It's like I don't need a reason and like I don't even care



I swear and I cry, “I can't let this secret down!”

But it's best to let it lie buried in the ground



Gov'ner you must realize

It's just the family name that makes me blind

Oh God, please brainwash me, scold me too

If I don't forgive, or at least forget

I will continue with this feud

Continue with this feud

Just like a cartoon

It's just a family feud

And as I end this tune

Will I continue with the feud?