| I packed up my bags,
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| Put in my favorite Levi’s.
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| Laid my mandoline beside the door.
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| Said to mama:
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| I won’t be long,
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| Don’t worry about me,
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| I’ll be home before dark.
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| I’ll be alright,
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| And you’ll be fine without me.
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| I’ll be home before dark.
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| Bought a ticket
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| To New York City,
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| One way out and no return.
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| I watched the sun go down
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| Across the plains from Denver
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| Lord, how the western sky can burn.
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| Met a boy in the darkness
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| Handsome, tall, and heartless.
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| Loved him like an eagle loves the wind
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| Till I heard him say:
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| I won’t be long,
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| Don’t worry about me,
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| I’ll be home before dark.
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| I’ll be alright,
|
| And you’ll be fine without me.
|
| I’ll be home before dark.
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| My daughter looks like him they say
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| To me she looks like mama,
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| I see an eagle shadow in her eyes
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| Last night, on her birthday,
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| We blew the candles out together
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| I wonder will she take me by surprise
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| When she says:
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| Mama, I won’t be long,
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| Don’t worry about me,
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| I’ll be home before dark.
|
| I’ll be alright,
|
| And you’ll be fine without me.
|
| I’ll be home before dark.
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| I’ll be home before dark. |