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Scarlet Town Lyrics
Buddy I went down to Scarlet Town
Never been there before
Well you slept on a feather bed
I slept on the floor
I don't mind a lean old time
Or drinking my coffee cold
But the things I seen in Scarlet Town
Did mortify my soul
Look at that deep well
Look at that dark grave
Ringing that iron bell
In Scarlet Town today
I spent some time in New Orleans
And ?
A Scarlet Town brought me down
Low as I ever been
Look at that deep well
Look at that dark grave
Ringing that iron bell
In Scarlet Town today
On the day I came to Scarlet Town
You promised I'd be your bride
You left me here to rot away
Like holly on the mountainside
Look at that deep well
Look at that dark grave
Ringing that iron bell
In Scarlet Town today
Now you may hide in Scarlet Town
For a hundred years or more
But the man who knows what time it is
Is knocking at the door
So fare you well, my own true love
If you ever see me around
I'll be looking through a telescope
From hell to Scarlet Town
Look at that deep well
Look at that dark grave
Ringing that iron bell
In Scarlet Town today
Never been there before
Well you slept on a feather bed
I slept on the floor
Or drinking my coffee cold
But the things I seen in Scarlet Town
Did mortify my soul
Look at that dark grave
Ringing that iron bell
In Scarlet Town today
And ?
A Scarlet Town brought me down
Low as I ever been
Look at that dark grave
Ringing that iron bell
In Scarlet Town today
You promised I'd be your bride
You left me here to rot away
Like holly on the mountainside
Look at that dark grave
Ringing that iron bell
In Scarlet Town today
For a hundred years or more
But the man who knows what time it is
Is knocking at the door
If you ever see me around
I'll be looking through a telescope
From hell to Scarlet Town
Look at that dark grave
Ringing that iron bell
In Scarlet Town today
Song Info
Submitted by
smallwonderrobot On Jun 28, 2011
More Gillian Welch
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I Dream A Highway
Everything Is Free
The Way It Goes
Hard Times
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Just a correction: It's "Look at that deep well, look at that dark grave."
3rd verse missing lyric: "And Cairo on a bet..."
An aspect of the meaning of this song is how it reinterprets and reframes the traditional "Barbara Allen".
Actually I think it’s Cairo on the Bend which is near Lebanon, TN on the Cumberland River
Actually I think it’s Cairo on the Bend which is near Lebanon, TN on the Cumberland River