Jeannie C. Riley
What Was Her Name
Oh, what was her name
She used to sit next to me in math
Had the saddest eyes I'd ever seen
And like me she was only sixteen

What was her name
She was so silent and strange
Then the word leaked out
And time brought about the truth
And the tragedy began

She was only sixteen and married
And married to a law-breaking man
And loving him and trusting him
As only a young girl can

He looked so exciting and different
To the eyes of this innocent child
He said I'll marry you and carry you
Through a life exciting and wild
Oh, what was her name
I see her so well in my mind

Especially that day right after school
When I saw her for the last time
The sheriff's car was there
She looked so small and alone
As they put her inside and drove out of sight
I was scared and ran all the way home
They were trying to make her betray him
But she refused to understand
How the love of her life
Could be mixed up with a dirty thieving man

So she never said a word against him
And finally they set her free
When she met him that night
She was surprised when he said
That's the last time you'll squeal on me

When the first bell rang
The next morning
She was sittin' on the schoolhouse steps
Leaning 'gaist the rail
She looked so pale
I asked a friend if she was asleep

The last bells rang
And still she didn't move
As we all started to class
So June went over to her saying
Come on
The last bells has rang
That's when she saw the knife in her back
Oh, heck
What was her name