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

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