Lyrics

A southern wind blew over Sadland.
Still I've got your picture in my hand.
When I see the birds begin to scatter
I'm a blind man in the sun, I shatter.

I'm swimming in a different river-
the old one just rolled away.
The water's too cold to shiver in,
the sky's too big to pray.
She believes I'll come forgive her,
say the things only I can say
but you can tell her I'm here 'til winter I'll
be home on Christmas day.

My brother froze to death on poverty.
White horses carried him off state property.
A southern wind's blowing over Sadland
and I'm hiding in an old jug band.

Coo-Coo bird's hollerin' in the night sky,
time just laid down and stretched back.
The elements come here to lay down and die,
tall black horses, dirty derby hack.
I came to the mountain to see your fire
stuck like a jewel in a shroud of black.
Music's started, guns getting aimed up high,
everybody dancing on the railroad tracks.

Family's waiting on me in Danville
and I'll get there someday, I will.
A southern wind's blowing over and over
and I'm writing my name down in the water.
I could smell the ash and the oak.
I was waiting in a train that never came.
I could smell the green wood start to smoke.
I've been here awhile, I've made my name.
I drink down the whiskey bottles,
pass the empties over to The Man;
he blows 'em, beats 'em and throttles 'em-
playing in the old jug band.

But somebody wants something.
Something I could never bring.
A southern wind's blowing over Sadland.
When I get back I'll be your man.

I'm walking in my own shadow down to the lake,
I'm going there to be baptized.
The ghosts are starting to take shape, I'm
watching them out of the corner of my eye.
When I get back I'm gonna build a log cabin,
way up on a mountain so high.
Just gonna stay there, gonna look out
watch you when you go by.

I buried it ten paces from the spring
with a locket and a wedding ring.
Southern wind blowing over Sadland
and I will come back when I can.