Ma would never say what happened

And we knew better than push too hard

We knew we had all the chores to tend to

Like fixing fences and helping her

Washing dishes and making coffee

Me and Virgil would chop some wood

But we'd stop our swinging

Just to listen to her crying

It didn't sound too good



I can remember too well



But we never thought to pay much heed

We learned to live life the best we could

But then one day pa up and left us

High and dry without a word

Seemed a pity

My ma was pretty

But I soon learned life ain't that way

And I can remember hearing her weeping

While we were sleeping next to her



I can remember

I'll never forgive and I'll never forget

'Cos pa you broke her heart

Oh pa you broke her heart

You broke her heart

Oh pa you broke her heart



Well the years rolled by

And 'fore we knew it

Our sister got married and moved out west

I stayed with ma 'cos I couldn't desert her

I knew it would hurt her to be alone

So we pulled tighter

Said we'd try to make things easy

And raise a smile

But as the night came

We'd hear her crying

Praying for pa to come back again



I can remember

I'll never forgive him and I'll never forget

'Cos pa you broke her heart

Oh pa you broke her heart



And then the winter came

I'd never known it colder

Oh it seemed the worst in years

And the night she died I swear I saw her smiling

Saying I was a big boy now no tears

So I packed up all we had and Virgil got the horses

And we paid our last respects and gave the whip a crack

Oh it seemed a big bad world we were riding into

Me and Virgil both agreed

We best head off and don't look back



Nothing but desert all around

Oh it made me wonder

Lord it's hard to carry on

When you're sick with hunger

Weeks and months of sleeping rough

Keeping clear of danger

Seems million miles from anywhere

I prayed to my God to change it

You'd best keep your head but don't look back



Well me and Virgil we beat the desert

Riding fast and riding hard

We hit the city the past behind us

And we raised some hell we had some fun

But real soon I met a lady oh so pretty

And oh so fine

And 'fore too long I found myself married

With a home of my own and a blue eyed son

And 'til this day I can hear ma saying to me

You're a big boy now



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