***************************

When I First Came To Town

***************************

A traditional version is also available.







When I first came to town

All the people gathered round

They bought me drinks

Lord, how they quickly changed their tune





When I first came to town

People took me round from end to end

Like someone may take round a friend

O how quickly they changed their tune





Suspicion and dark murmurs surround me

Everywhere I go they confound me

As though the blood on my hands

Is there for every citizen to see





O sweet Jesus

There is no turning back

There is always one more town

A little further down the track





And from my window, across the tracks

I watch the juicers burn their fires

And in that light

Their faces leer at me

How I wish they'd just let me be





When I first came to town

Their favours were for free

Now even the doors of the whores of this town

Are closed to me





I search the mirror

And I try to see

Why the people of this town

Have washed their hands of me





O sweet Jesus

There is no turning back

There is always one more town

A little further down the track





O lord, every god-damn turn I take

I fear the noose, I fear the stake

For there is no bone

They did not break

In all the towns I've been before





Well those that sin against me are snuffed out

I know from every day that I live

God-damn the day that I was born

The night that forced me from the womb

And god-damn this town

For I am leaving now

But one day I will return

And the people of this town will surely see

Just how quickly the tables turn





O sweet Jesus

This really is the end

There is always one more town

A little further round the end