Lyrics
Laura Lou was heaven sent.
Laura Lou was perceived as an incredibly wonderful person.
She could be the saving grace of any other gent.
She had the potential to bring salvation or redemption to any man.
But she took to me and lord i took it way too far.
Despite her positive attributes, the speaker crossed boundaries in their relationship with Laura, going too far.
Every Sunday we would meet,
They used to meet every Sunday.
Half a day's up the river beneath Scotts creek.
The meeting spot was a location a significant distance away, up the river beneath Scotts creek.
It was the only place she could bear to me her heart.
Scotts creek was the only place where Laura felt comfortable sharing her emotions with the speaker.
I asked Laura for her hand,
The speaker proposed marriage to Laura.
She was already steady to the new statesman,
However, Laura was already committed or loyal to someone else.
Who beat her to hell and had a bottle for a crutch.
Her current partner was abusive, causing her harm and relying on alcohol.
You know he never liked me much.
The abusive partner held animosity towards the speaker.
My darling angel was afraid,
Laura, the beloved person, was fearful of the consequences if her abusive partner discovered her relationship with the speaker.
If he found out, all the hell he'd raise.
She anticipated severe repercussions from her partner.
She'd rather love me in the dark than be clinging to my grave.
Laura preferred to love the speaker discreetly rather than risk her life.
Chalk it up to foolish pride.
The speaker attributes the situation to his own foolish pride.
I'll never back down on what is mine.
The speaker is determined not to relinquish what he considers his.
I'll kill ten men just to see that she was safe.
The speaker is ready to go to extreme lengths to ensure Laura's safety, even willing to kill to protect her.
He followed her up the banks one night.
The abusive partner followed Laura to the riverbank one night.
He grabbed her by the hair when she held me tight.
He assaulted her physically while she was seeking comfort from the speaker.
He raised his hand, and i shot that son of a bitch.
The speaker shot and killed the abusive partner in defense of Laura.
And i threw him down Greasy Ridge.
He disposed of the body by throwing it down Greasy Ridge.
Several moons gone overhead,
A considerable amount of time passed.
When farmer Johnson found that ol' boy dead.
The body of the abusive partner was discovered by farmer Johnson.
People came from all around just ti see what sealed his fate.
Curiosity led many people from the area to gather and investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
A .22 behind the ear,
The cause of death was a gunshot wound from a .22 caliber weapon.
It struck that whole damn hill with fear.
The incident instilled fear in the entire hill or community.
All they wanted to know was where was Laura when this took place.
People were interested in Laura's whereabouts at the time of the killing.
My darling angel draweth close.
Laura approached the speaker.
I hear her call from behind the oaks.
She called out to the speaker from behind the oak trees.
Honey baby said "we gotta leave this town"
Laura expressed the urgency to leave the town together.
But not before the law came down.
However, they couldn't depart before the authorities intervened.
They put our names on an old hemp noose.
The authorities prepared a noose for both the speaker and Laura.
They put that iron and lead to use.
They used guns and bullets as execution methods.
They left me no choice but to get behind that mare.
The speaker had no other choice but to try to escape on horseback.
Dragging by my broken feet,
He was subjected to severe physical abuse by the authorities.
They beat my body throughout the street. They string me up and their hats fly through the air.
Eventually, he was hanged, and the onlookers cheered.
Laura Lou was heaven sent.
Repetition of the idea that Laura was an exceptional person sent from heaven.
She could be the saving grace of any other gent.
Reiteration of Laura's potential to save or redeem others.
But she took to me and lord i took it way too far.
The speaker reiterates the idea of crossing boundaries in his relationship with Laura, resulting in tragic consequences.
Now I hang alongside my heart.
The speaker metaphorically hangs beside his heart, indicating the profound connection between Laura and himself, even in death.
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