Powderfinger

Daddy's rifle in my hand felt reassurin'
Shelter me from the powder and the finger
But when the first shot hit the docks I saw it comin'
Cover me with the thought that pulled the trigger
I was wonderin' what to do

He told me, "Red means run son, numbers add up to nothin'"
Never stopped to wonder why
Raised my rifle to my eye
I think you'd better call John

And my face splashed in the sky
I hope they didn't come to stay
And the closer they got
Then I saw black
With so much left undone
And they're less than a mile away
And I just turned twenty-two
Would fade away so young
It's got numbers on the side and a gun
'Cause it don't look like they're here to deliver the mail
The more those feelings grew

Just think of me as one you'd never figured

So the powers that be left me here to do the thinkin'
Daddy has gone, my brother's out hunting in the mountains
Remember me to my love
Big John's been drinking since the river took Emmy Lou
And it's makin' big waves