Seven & Change

The gallows sway up on Stoneman's hill As the west wind screams through the night In the morning the timbers will groan and sigh With the weight of Jack McRae's life On a warm summer night in Danville, Virginia To the traveling show Jack went And that's where he first saw Lucy Pierce He was sure she was heaven sent The music was thick as a Chesapeake night And Jack caught Ms. Lucy's eye He sidled up next to the lovely Ms. Pierce And across the dance floor they did fly Later that night when the band was gone Two paramours lay under the stars They talked of the future and that old-time music To the memory of ringing guitars Soon Jack headed down to the village square His boots trod on the wooden sidewalk A nosegay of daffodils conveyed his love As he headed on down the block He walked past the church as the bells were ringing And the doors opened up to a cheer Out stepped Lucy, all dressed in white Her arms locked with a suave buccaneer Jack's breaking heart could be heard 'cross the south All the way down to Atlanta Fueled by a rage he struck them both down And then fled south to Savannah Well the law caught Jack and put him in irons And to the judge he had nothing to say The judge said, Son, you'll wear hemp for your crime And the ultimate price you will pay Now time sneaks up on Jack like a bandit He sees nothing through his thousand yard stare The hangman's got his gibbet fine-tuned And Jack utters useless prayers The bottom dropped out and Jack started dancing He's sporting a hemp rope necktie Once again his feet are as light as air It took him seven and change to die