When you wore a tulip, A sweet, yellow tulip, And I wore a big red rose. When you caressed me, 'Twas then Heaven blessed me, Such a blessing no one knows. You made life cheery When you called me dearie, 'Twas down where the blue grass grows. Oh, it was sweeter than julep When you wore a tulip, And I wore a big red rose.

Around her neck she wore a yellow ribbon She wore it in the springtime and in the month of May Hey, hey And if you asked her why the heck she wore it She wore it for her lover who was far, far away Far away (far away) Far away (far away) Oh, she wore it for her lover who was far, far away Far away (far away) Far away (far away) Oh, she wore it for her lover who was far, far away Around her knee she wore a purple garter She wore it in the springtime and in the month of May Hey, hey And if you asked her why the heck she wore it She wore it for her lover who was far, far away Far away (far away) Far away (far away) Oh she wore it for her lover who was far, far away Far away (far away) Far away (far away) Oh she wore it for her lover who was far, far away Behind the door her father kept a shotgun He kept it in the springtime and in the month of May Hey, hey And if you ask him why the heck he kept it He kept it for her lover who was far, far away Far away (far away) Far away (far away) Oh he kept it for her lover who was far, far away Far away (far away) Far away (far away) Oh he kept it for her lover who was far, far away And on the wall she keeps a marriage license She keeps it in the springtime and in the month of May Hey, hey And if you asked her why the heck she keeps it She keeps it for her lover who is far, far away Far away (far away) Far away (far away) Oh she keeps it for her lover who is far, far away Far away (far away) Far away (far away) Oh she keeps it for her lover who is far, far away

Was it bitter then, With our backs against the wall? Were we better men, Than we'd ever been before? Say, if she came again today, Would you still answer to the call? Tell the truth my friend, Don't it matter anymore? We were simple men, By her side when she was born. Talkin' about the dream. It was simple then, Like the freedom when you fall. And we were smaller then you see, But soon we gathered like a storm. They don't understand What that thunder meant at all. Was he crucified, Was he done in by the law? Are you satisfied, That he'll never ride again? Some people say he got away, They say he never died at all. If that story's true, Does it bother you my friend? Was it bitter then, With our backs against the wall? Spoken Say, two thousand years ago. Were we better men, Than we'd ever been before? Spoken Or two hundred years ago. Say, if she came again today, Would you still answer to the call? Or tomorrow. Tell the truth my friend, Don't it matter anymore?

In my own way, I'm a believer. In my own way, right or wrong. I don't talk too much about it. It's something I keep workin' on. I don't have too much to build on, My faith has never been that strong. There is a man there in that buildin'. He's a holy man, they say. He keeps talkin' about tomorrow, While I keep strugglin' with today. He preaches hellfire and brimstone, And heaven seems so far away. I do believe in a higher power. One that loves us, one and all. Not someone to solve my problems, Or to catch me when I fall. He gave us all a mind to think with. And to know what's right or wrong. He is that inner spirit, That keeps us strong. In my own way, I'm a believer. But not in voices I can't hear. I believe in a lovin' father. One I never have to fear, That I should live life at its fullest, Just as long as I am here. Mmm-mmm, mmm-mm.