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Apache Tears Tab

by Johnny Cash


                                                
Hoof prints and foot prints, deep ruts the wagons made 
                                      
The victor and the loser came by here 
                                                    
no head stones but these bones bring Mascalero death moans  
                                                    
see the smooth black nuggets by the thousands laying here  
                                       
petrified but justified are these Apache tears 
 
 
                                   
Dead grass, dry roots, hunger crying in the night 
                                        
Ghost of broken hearts and laws are here 
                                                
And who saw the young squaw they judged by their whiskey law 
                                  
Tortured till she died of pain and fear 
                                                   
Where the soldiers lay her back are the black Apache tears 
 
 
                                             
The young men, the old men, the guilty and the innocent 
                                           
Bled red blood and chilled alike with fear 
                                         
The red men, the white men, no fight ever took this land 
                                     
So don't raise the dust when you pass here 
                                                    
They're sleeping and in my keeping are these Apache tears