ALONG THE MUGGY COAST OF NEW ORLEANS
DOWN A RUTTED HORSE AND BUGGY TRAIL
THROUGH THE HANGING MOSS AND GNARLED CYPRESS TREES LIES THE RUBLE OF BRICKS AND WOOD

THEY CAME LONG AGO ACROSS THE SE
TO SETTLE ON BRIARWOOD FARM
TO SHED SOME SKIN AND A CONVICTS NAME
AND THE CHANCE TO MAKE A NEW START

CHORUS UNDER A RUM SOAKED MOON
ON A MARDI GRAS NIGHT
I SPIN GRANDFATHERS TALE

THE BACKS WERE BURNT AND THE HANDS THEY BLED
AS THE LAND GAVE IN TO THE PLOW
FROM THE STICKY WET HEAT AROSE A DREAM
AND THE JOHNSON FAMILY NAME

THEY CALLED HER HOPE AND SHE WAS GRAND
HER CRIES SCREECHING UP TOWARDS THE SKY
TO BE THE FIRST BORN IN THE PROMISED LAND
HER MAMA WAS THE FIRST TO DIE

IF YOU CAN DREAM IT THE BEAUTIFUL DAY WILL COME
WHEN WE ALL UNDERSTAND

ONE NIGHT CAME THE SOUND OF POUNDING HOOVES
THEN A DEAFENING CRACK IN THE BARN
FLAMES SPREAD THROUGH THE RAFTERS
AS THE COWARDS SPED AWAY
THE TOWN WOULD RING NO ALARM

PEARL HANDLED PISTOLS AND SHINY SILVER STARS
THE EVER -WATCHING EYES OF THE LAW
MUD CAKED BOOTS AND A PRETTY WHITE SMILE
NEVER A WHISPER ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW

FROM THE SMOKE AND THE ASHES DEFIANCE CAME
AND THEY WALKED OUT WITH ALL THEY HAD
TAKE THE TRAIN HEADED WEST, YOU'LL BE SAFE YOUNG MAN
CHASING THE BLOODY RED SUN
CHASING THE BLOODY RED SUN