John came home from war this morning He found his wife, she wasn't there And a cold cold feeling crept through his bones When he found a note at the bottom of the stairs Said I'm in love with your brother I've found a preacher I'm in love and I'm heading to the south Boy you were fine but I've changed my mind I'm boarding the next train out of town John flew into a rage like thunder He brought his fist down and he cracked the floor He thought he broke bone the way he screamed and he roared And he headed right back out the door Said I'm going to find my brother God damn this preached And I'm going to put him underneath a stone When the oak trees are so tall the mountains feels small They'll remember the wrath of my storm John crashed in with his pistol crying In the morning just before the dawn He took out his knife and he carved out the light Of a future in the eyes of the lord Strung him up high silhouetted in the sky Let the ravens pick him to the bone When the law man came by he turned down his eyes Not to gaze upon the brother of John The station platform was empty and quiet She waited for a man who'd never show When the noon day sun was high and cracking The ground she felt a lump rise in her throat John swept from behind put a gun on her side Said baby you were why I came home I won't take your life but I want to look into your eyes When you see I killed the man that you love