Lyrics The Road It Gives, the Road It Takes Away - Tom Russell

The Road It Gives, the Road It Takes Away

I was walking down a quiet road in Ireland
Out beneath those tough old ancient stars
When I thought I heard old Scottish Mike singing Carrick Fergus
As I recalled those wild days in those loud Norwegian bars
He’d sing, «I'm drunk today and I’m rarely sober,
Like a soldier on the road to Mandalay.»
Well the road it gave him wine
and the women fair and fine
He drunk himself to death, I heard today
But we’ll sing hallelujah, sing it in the morning
And thank the Lord for giving us one more day
And for the one’s that have passed on through
We’ll sing this one for you
The road it gives and the road it takes away
My baby said she didn’t mind me travelin'
She enjoyed the time alone when I was gone
Til she looked me in the eyes and said it’s over
And I saw the anger buried far too long
I picked up my guitar and sang the Dutchman
About two people whose love had seen kinder days
But my baby she was gone,
before the song was sung
Well my music never touched her anyway
But we’ll sing hallelujah, sing it in the morning
And thank the Lord for giving us one more day
And for the one’s that have passed on through
We’ll sing this one for you
The road it gives and the road it takes away
The road it gives and the road it takes away
The road it gives and the road it takes away