[Verse 1]
Pa drove to town yesterday to pick out her grave
He found the lot where she'd lay
Then he drove to old man Ed Sutterton's place
To find him some peace

[Verse 2]
He got there 'round about twelve and he stayed 'til three
And the sun left him down in the valley
But the moon met him up in the hills by the lake
Reflecting the ghost of ma's place

[Verse 3]
Suppertime came and it went, no one heard from him
Sis left his food on his plate
At the end of the table, right next to ma's place
Where nobody sits

[Verse 4]
The telephone rang 'bout four, my sis answered it
And I felt the news through the floorboards
Like a long, sullen moan, like a wreck on the road
Like a joining of hands

[Refrain]
Sha la la la
Sha la la la
Sha la la la
Sha la la la
Sha la la la
Sha la la la
[Verse 5]
So I drove to town yesterday to pick out his grave
I found the lot where they'd lay
Then I drove to old man Ed Sutterton's place
To find me some peace