Dark Yellow Thread Lyrics

Every time I ride through May Valley

Brings back memories from my younger life

When I finished my work up in Crowley

Traveling back to my home and my wife

I was riding alone through the Southwest

Thinking words Uncle Chief used to tell

He said: "Hate, defeated, we will harvest

And grow beauty in its place instead"

Then I stopped for a drink in Wiley

Where I met with an old friend of mine

He asked me about my wife Nellie

'Cause he knew her since early times

He showed pictures and scars from his hard life

And a bracelet with a dark yellow thread

"It's a gift from a nice married woman

She keeps falling back into my bed"

I finally came home down in Holly

She was there waiting only for me

And I kissed the sweet lips of my Nellie

Deep in love as a man can be

Then a shock that I could not believe

When we finally jumped into our bed

Saw a bracelet behind her right sleeve

With that very same dark yellow thread

The red in my eyes showed the anger

Thoughts of violence deep in my head

But the words of Uncle Chief came to save me

I defeated hatred instead

Now I ride along Arkansas River

I don't talk about graves, guns, and hell

"For hate was defeated, forgiven

And I sing as an old Chief instead