Look out, Mama, there's a white boat coming up the river,

with a big red beacon and a flag and a man on the rail

I think you'd better call John

'cause it don't look like they're here to deliver the mail

And it's less than a mile away

I hope they didn't come to stay

It's got numbers on the side and a gun,

and it's making big waves



Daddy's gone, my brother's out hunting in the mountains

Big John's been drinking since the river took Emmy Lou

So the powers that be left me here to do all the thinking

And I just turned twenty-two

I was wondering what to do

And the closer they got,

The more those feelings grew



Daddy's rifle in my hand felt reassuring

He told me, 'Red means run, Son, numbers add up to nothing'

But when that first shot hit the dock, I saw it coming

Raised the rifle to my eye

Never stopped to wonder why

Then I saw black and my face flash in the sky



Shelter me from the powder and the finger

Cover me with the thought that pulled the trigger

Just think of me as one you never figured,

to fade away so young

with so much left undone

Remember me to my love

I know I'll miss her