Love, oh love, oh careless love.

Love, oh love, oh careless love.

You've caused me to weep, you have caused me to moan.

You've caused me to leave, my happy home.



Careless love, never drive a stranger from your door.

Careless love, never drive a stranger from your door.

‘Cause it may be your best friend, who is knockin' on the door.

And it may be your brother, you would never know.



Careless love, worried my mother until she died.

Careless love, it worried my po' dad until he lost his mind.

Now darn you, I'm gonna shoot you, shoot you four, five times,

And stand over your body, until you finish dyin'.



Then I'll dig your grave, I'll dig it with a silver spade.

I'll dig your grave, I'll dig it with a silver spade.

An' I'll bury your body on a lonesome hillside, close to a cedar grove,

Six feet in your grave, where nothin' will ever be told.



Careless love, just look how you been draggin' me ‘round.

Careless love, just look how you been raggin' me ‘round.

‘Caused me to forsaken my mother, she's laying in six feet of ground.

Careless love, I just can't let you drag me down.



Careless love, it worried my mother until she died.

Careless love, worried my dad until he lost his mind.

Now darn you, I'm gonna shoot you, shoot you four, five times,

And stand over your body, until you finish dyin'.