The Hill Where the Grass Grew Tall

[Verse 1] On a hill where the wildflowers swayed, Lived a young man with debts unpaid. A heart so true, a love so wide, But the reaper came at eventide. [Verse 2] Through the field where the clover grows, He swung his blade in the sun’s last glow. A hiss, a strike—a fate untold, A poison deep, his blood ran cold. [Chorus] Oh, John, why’d you stray so far? Down where the rattlers are… Sal came runnin’, bare feet flyin’, Eyes like fire, love undenied. [Verse 3] "Father, tell my girl," he sighed, "Tell her how hard I tried." But the wind just hummed the devil’s tune, As the stars fell and the harvest moon. [Verse 4] Sal fell down by his side, Grabbed his hand and wept, "Oh why? The grass can wait, the sun can rise— But you won’t see another summertime." [Chorus] Oh, John, why’d you stray so far? Down where the shadows are… Now the hill’s just an empty throne, Where the rattler shakes and the wind still moans. [Bridge] Girls, lace your black dresses tight, Boys, learn from his last goodnight. The fields won’t care if you’re gone too soon, The world just turns beneath the moon. [Outro] So lay him down where the hill runs steep, Where the grass still sways and the night birds weep. Sal walks alone where the wild clover grows, And the rattler sleeps where the cold wind blows.