th Fret By the banks of the river Where the willows hang down And the wild birds all warble___ With their high, lonesome sound Down in some hollow___ Where the waters run cold It was there I first listened To the lies that you told If the young men were blackbirds The young men were thrushes I would lay by the hours___ In the cold rainy marshes If the young men were squirrels With high bushy tails I'd fill up my shotgun With rock salt and nails Instrumental: Now I lie in my bed_____ And I see your sweet face The past I remember___ Time cannot erase The letters you wrote me__ Were written in shame And I know that your conscience Echoes my name Lord, I lie here each night All alone and I weep Nothing ain't worse Than a night without sleep I walk out alone___ Under the sky Too empty to sing Too lonesome to cry Instrumental: If the ladies were blackbirds____ And the young men were thrushes I'd lie there for hours___ In the cold rainy marshes If the ladies were squirrels With high bushy tails I'd fill up my shotgun___ With rock salt and nails I'd fill up my shotgun___ With rock salt and nails