Death and sorrow to follow all night long
But it sounds happy when a banjo's in the song

Death and suffering, malfeasance in there too
See it's happy when a banjo's in the tune

I've been scared to die since July
My old lady's car burst out in flames
She died that day and left me all alone
No casket just a box of ash

In the night I went to her grave
I decided to be brave
I headed to the grave
The moon was shining bright

To visit my old lady
in the night

as I was crying
footsteps I could hear
I stopped, listened intently
with fear

A dark figure did approach me
in the night
The smell of death was on his breath
Gave me such a fright

and he sang

Death and sorrow to follow all night long
But it sounds happy when a banjo's in the song

Death and suffering, malfeasance in there too
See it's happy when a banjo's in the tune

After his song was done I bid him night
He wasn't through and hooked me with delight

He swung his axe'jo right through my leg
I was hopping as I begged

I wasn't fast enough and he took another swing
He lopped my other leg, I noticed something
A fresh grave by my lady, dug beside of me
Dug there by this creepy beast

He rolled me into that ole hole
My eyes as big as ox
Then he tossed a familiar thing
My old lady's ashes
My old lady's box
My beloved in her tomb

And he sang

Death and sorrow to follow all night long
But it sounds happy when a banjo's in the song

Death and suffering, malfeasance in there too
See it's happy when a banjo's in the tune