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St John the gambler
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by Townes Van Zandt
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When she had twenty years she turned to her mother
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saying Mother, I know that you'll grieve
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but I've given my soul to St John the gambler
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tomorrow comes time leave
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for the hills cannot hold back my sorrow forever
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and dead men lay deep 'round the door
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the only salvation thats mine for the asking
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so mother, think on me no more
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Winter held high round the mountains breast
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and the cold of a thousand snows
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lay heaped upon the forests leaf
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but she dressed in calico
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for a gambler likes his women fancy
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fancy she would be
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and the fire of her longing would keep way the cold
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and her dress was a sight to see
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But the road was long beneath the feet
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she followed her frozen breath
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in search of a certain St John the gambler
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stumbling to her death
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she heard his laughter right down from the mountains
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and danced with her mothers tears
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to a funeral drawn a calico
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'neath the cross of twenty years
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To a funeral drawn a calico
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'neath the cross of twenty years
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St John the gambler
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Townes Van Zandt |