Hush falls the evening
And tickles the bell
One freckle, three freckle, four
Hush falls the evening
And tickles the bell
Love, close your eyes
There are stories to tell
Troubles and marks and sakes to keep
Blow out the candle and go to sleep
I hang the moon that looks to the west
Tied to your pillow and twice ‘round your chest
Should the sky thunder and should the stars mist
Water the branches that sprout from your wrist

Once was a man
On a dark and cruel road
One freckle, three freckle, four
Once was a man
On a dark and cruel road
Where strangers and brothers
And caravans towed
Troubles and marks and sakes to keep
Blow out the candle and go to sleep

Each pushed in fog
With wife and a child
One freckle, three freckle, four
Each pushed in fog
With wife and a child
Out of Virginia
And into the wild
Troubles and marks and sakes to keep
Blow out the candle and go to sleep
I hang the moon that looks to the west
Tied to your pillow and twice ‘round your chest
Should the sky thunder and should the stars mist
Water the branches that sprout from your wrist
Wife shook with fever
And sick went the air
One freckle, three freckle, four
Wife shook with fever
And sick went the air
He tied her to saddle
’Til thirst took the mare
Troubles and marks and sakes to keep
Blow out the candle and go to sleep

Some drifted missing
And some drifted found
One freckle, three freckle, four
Some drifted missing
And some drifted found
He carried his wife
’Til they fell to the ground
Troubles and marks and sakes to keep
Blow out the candle and go to sleep
I hang the moon that looks to the west
Tied to your pillow and twice ‘round your chest
Should the sky thunder and should the stars mist
Water the branches that sprout from your wrist

He held her down
With a man and his son
One freckle, three freckle, four
He held her down
With a man and his son
Nobody spoke
As he emptied his gun
Troubles and marks and sakes to keep
Blow out the candle and go to sleep
Wagons and heels turned
And limped as he froze
One freckle, three freckle, four
Wagons and heels turned
And limped as he froze
He strangled her locket
Away from the crows
Troubles and marks and sakes to keep
Blow out the candle and go to sleep
I hang the moon that looks to the west
Tied to your pillow and twice ‘round your chest
Should the sky thunder and should the stars mist
Water the branches that sprout from your wrist

Day came
And he and his blood were forgot
One freckle, three freckle, four
Day came
And he and his blood were forgot
Save for the branches
That from his wrist shot
Troubles and marks and sakes to keep
Blow out the candle and go to sleep

Weary the prairies
And littered with dead
One freckle, three freckle, four
Weary the prairies
And littered with dead
I’ll leave her locket
Right here on your bed
Troubles and marks and sakes to keep
Blow out the candle and go to sleep
I hang the moon that looks to the west
Tied to your pillow and twice ‘round your chest
Should the sky thunder and should the stars mist
Water the branches that sprout from your wrist
Hush falls the evening
And tickles the bell
One freckle, three freckle, four