Dead Man’s Coat

Intro:
Down the years, the face of fate,
Smiles at me like a ghost,
And motives come to change me
Into what I hate the most,
I never wanted to become,
Part of destiny's cruel game,
But it took one man to break me,
And Tom Lowrie was his name,
There was a time when I didn't know,
How pain inside can grow,
And one action leads you to another,
As set and deep as a river's flow,
And I still recall that morning,
The treachery and lies,
And sometimes fear and hatred,
Can prove to be the strongest ties,
Sometimes fear and hatred,
Prove to be the strongest ties.

Verse 1:
When I was nineteen years I killed the man,
Who slit my fathers throat,
So proud was I of my revenge,
I stole the wretch’s coat,
I took it to sweet Mary,
And she sewed the holes I'd made,
And though she washed away the blood,
The stain would never fade,
Yes, though she washed away the blood,
The stain would never fade.

Verse 2:
Sweet Mary was the purest girl,
I might have taken for my wife,
But long ago the threads were cast,
That would lead me through my life,
The constable's men knew my name,
And the knew just what I'd done,
So I kissed my love a last farewell,
And I went on the run,
Yes, I kissed my love a last farewell,
And I went on the run.

Chorus:
Oh, time has turned the page now,
Laid my life out like a country track,
Oh, see what I've become now,
With a dead man's coat upon my back.

Verse 3:
I left my home at midnight,
Put the valley to my heels,
And never once did I look back,
So afraid of what I'd feel,
And I was scared the constable's men,
Would run me to the ground,
But Mary told them I was heading north,
And I was southward bound,
Yes, Mary said I was heading north,
And I was southward bound.

Chorus:

Verse 4:
I found no peace in the city,
Found no hope on distant shores,
And the bottom of a bottle,
Holds no thing I'm looking for,
And I've stolen when I was hungry,
I've killed when anger filled my soul,
But I'm no more than blood stains on a coat,
And some day I'll pay the toll,
I'm no more than blood stains on a coat,
And some day I'll pay the toll.

Chorus:

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