One time I drove to see a girl across the country
One night as I was driving through to Mexico
I had the windows wide open
It was cold and I was crying
And I later laid her on the radio
Then I stopped that side of Tahoe
Through this tiny mining town
At a diner to be filled for the ride
And in the wind I heard this crying
Like a heart broke cried a tune
I turned my collar up and went inside.
Well, I saw this smiling waitress
Joshing friendly with these truckers
That give her pats and she gives them shoves
I said: Miss watch that awful crying
Everybody laughed and said:
It's the tomb of the unknown love
And then they pointed out the window to this stone
All by myself, beneath the tree, beside the hill
And on that winter night
I read these words alone
These words that are haunting me still, it said:
He lies a young man struck down in his prime
By the awesome burning power of love
He couldn't stand this true love cheating
So he shot the girl down
They hung him from that tree up ( right ) above
I know that local folks say it's the wind
But I know it's crying from the tomb of the unknown love.
So I drove on to my destination
I did the job my heart commanded of me
And when the sheriff sirens came up
I did believe and tried to find
They counted ten, I came out at three
So now I guess tomorrow morning
Warden reads some kind of paper
How I'm gonna pay the state for what I've done
Hey, didn't they put their shackles on me
And they'll take a little walk
They won't have to drag me 'cause it's said and done
And maybe someday they can put me at this stone
All by itself, beneath the tree, beside the hill
And lovers everywhere can come and meet alone
These words that forgive them up to, and it'll say:
He lies a young man.

Writer : SMOTHERMAN, MICHAEL
Copyright : Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing