St. James Hospital / Frosty Morn

(album: Live And Pickin' - 1979)

Early one morning at the St. James Hospital
Early one morning, morn' in the month of May
When I looked through the window and a-spied a dear cowboy
A dear cowboy as cold as the clay

Set ye down by me and hear my sad story
Set ye down by me and sing me a song
For my poor head is aching and my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor cowboy that knowed he done wrong

Send for that doctor to come and heal up my body
And send for the preacher to come and pray for my soul
For my poor head is aching and my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor cowboy and Hell is my doom

Get sixteen perdy maidens to come and carry my coffin
Sixteen perdy maidens to come and sing me a song
And tell 'em to bring some of them sweet smelling roses
So they can't smell me as they tote me along

Beat the drums slowly and play the fife lowly
Play the death march as ye carry me along
Throw bunches of roses all over my coffin
There goes a poor cowboy that knowed he done wrong