My (Gm)moth er came to Haz ard when I was just sev en.

E ven then, the folks in town she said with (F)prej u diced eyes,

“That (C)boy’s er not right.”

(Gm)Three years a go when I came to know Mar y,

first time that some one looked thou be yond the (F)ru mors and the lies,

and saw the (C)man in side.

We (Eb)used

to walk down by

the (Bb)riv er.

She (Eb)loved

to watch the sun go down.

We (Eb)used

to walk a long the (Bb)riv

er

and (F)dream

our way out of this town.

My (Gm)No one un der stood ard what I felt for Mar y.

No one cared un til the night she went out (F)walk ing a lone

and (C)nev er came home.

(Gm)Man with a badge came I knock ing next morn ing.

Here I, sur round ed a thou be sand the (F)fin gers sud den ly

and point ed (C)right at me.

I (Eb)swear

I left her by the (Bb)riv er.

I (Eb)swear

I left her safe and sound.

I (Eb)need

to make it to the (Bb)riv

er

and (F)leave

this old Ne bras ka town.

I think a bout my life gone by, and (Gm)how it’s done me wrong.

There’s no es cape for me this time.

(Bb)All of my res cues are (Bb)gone,

long gone.