Love, oh love, oh careless love
Shot down from the sky above
Now my money's spent and gone
You passed my door singin' a song

My gal lives across the river
Buy a boat and I'll be with her
Buy a farm and I'll give to her
Flowers grown in ol' manure

First on the table, next on the wall
Some was brought before the law
What's born in spring will die in fall
Willie passed by and no one saw

Fallen leaders, fallen leaves
Fall in line and follow me
We'll be upwards in the tree
Where none of them dogs will be

Who's in hell, who's in heaven
Hope I die before eleven
Once it's late I can't see straight
I won't make it to the gate

Apparitions, ghosts and crows
Where'd you come from? "from below"
How'd you get there? "we don't know"
"We just did what we were told"

Burning bridges, burning creeds
Burning lands of enemies
Once I'm rich as I can be
Then these things won't bother me

Love your neighbor, love your foe
Hang your love from the gallows pole
This ol' world cannot stand long
Not much longer than my song

Love, oh love, oh careless love
Shot down from the sky above
Now my money's spent and gone
You passed my door singing a song