It was late last night when the boss came home
To a deserted mansion and a desolate throne
Servant said, “Boss, the lady’s gone
She left this morning just ’fore dawn.”
“You got something to tell me, tell it to me, man.
Come to the point as straight as you can.”
“Old Henry Lee, chief of the clan,
Came riding through the woods and took her by the hand.”
The boss he laid back flat on his bed
He cursed the heat and he clutched his head
He pondered the future of his fate
To wait another day would be far too late
“Go fetch me my coat and my tie
And the cheapest labor that money can buy
Saddle me up my buckskin mare
If you see me go by, put up a prayer.”
Well, they rode all night and they rode all day
Eastward long on the broad highway
His spirit was tired and his vision was bent
His men deserted him and onward he went
He came to a place where the light was dull
His forehead pounding in his skull
Heavy heart was wracked with pain
Insomnia raging in his brain
Well he threw down his helmet and his cross-handled sword
He renounced his faith, he denied his Lord
Crawled on his belly, put his ear to the wall
One way or another he’d put an end to it all
He leaned down, cut the electric wire
Stared into the flames and he snorted the fire
Peered through the darkness, caught a glimpse of the two
It was hard to tell for certain who was who
He lowered himself down on a golden chain
His nerves were quaking in every vein
His knuckles were bloody, he sucked in the air
He ran his fingers through his greasy hair
They looked at each other and their glasses clinked
One single unit inseparably linked
“Got a strange premonition there’s a man close by.”
“Don’t worry about him, he wouldn’t harm a fly.”
From behind the curtain the boss crossed the floor
He moved his feet and he bolted the door
Shadows hiding the lines in his face
With all the nobility of an ancient race
She turned, she was startled with a look of surprise
With a hatred that could hit the skies
“You’re a reckless fool, I can see it in your eyes.
To come this way was by no means wise.”
“Get up, stand up, you greedy lipped wench
And cover your face or suffer the consequence.
You are making my heart full sick.
Put your clothes back on double quick.”
“Silly boy, you think me a saint.
I’ll listen no more to your words of complaint.
You’ve given me nothing but the sweetest lies.
Now hold your tongue and feed your eyes.”
“I’d have given you the stars and the planets too
But what good would these things do you?
Bow the heart, if not the knee
Or never again this world you’ll see.”
“Oh, please let not your heart be cold.
This man is dearer to me than gold.”
“Oh my dear, you must be blind.
He’s a gutless ape with a worthless mind.”
“You had your way too long with me.
Now it’s me who’ll determine how things shall be.
Try to escape,” he cussed and cursed
“You’ll have to try to get past me first.”
“I dare not let your passion rule.
You think my heart, the heart of a fool.
And you sir, you cannot deny
You made a monkey of me, what and for why?”
“I’ll have no more of this insulting chat.
The devil can have you, I’ll see to that.
Look sharp or step aside,
Or in the cradle you’ll wish you died.”
The gun went boom and the shot rang clear
First bullet grazed his ear
Second ball went right straight in
And he bent in the middle like a twisted pin
He crawled to the corner and he lowered his head
He gripped the chair and he grabbed the bed
It would take more than needle and thread
Bleeding from the mouth, he’s as good as dead
“You shot my husband down, you fiend.”
“Husband, what husband, what the hell do you mean?
He was a man of strife, a man of sin.
I cut him down and I’ll throw him to the wind.”
“Hear this,” she said, with angry breath
“You too shall meet the lord of death.
It was I who brought your soul to life.”
And she raised her robe and she drew out a knife
His face was hard and caked with sweat
His arms ached and his hands were wet
“You’re a murderous queen and a bloody wife.
If you don’t mind, I’ll have the knife.”
“We’re two of a kind and our blood runs hot.
But we’re no way similar in body and thought.
All husbands are good men, as all wives know.”
Then she pierced him to the heart and his blood did flow
His knees went limp and he reached for the door
His doom was sealed, he slid to the floor
He whispered in her ear, “This is all your fault.
My fighting days have come to a halt.”
She touched his lip and kissed his cheek
He tried to speak, but his breath was weak
“You died for me, now I’ll die for you.”
She put the blade to her heart and she ran it through
All three lovers together in a heap
Thrown into the grave forever to sleep
Funeral torches blazed away
Through the towns and the villages all night and all day