Joan Baez — Caleb Meyer lyrics

(Gillian Welch/David Rawlings)

Caleb Meyer, he lived alone
In them hollarin' pines
Then he made a little whiskey for himself
Said it helped pass the time

Long one evening in back of my house,
Caleb come around
And he called my name 'til I went out
With no one else around

Caleb Meyer, your ghost is gonna
Wear them rattlin' chains.
But when I go to sleep at night,
Don't you call my name

Where's your husband, Nellie Kane
Where's your darlin gone?
Did he go down off the mountain side
And leave you all alone?

Yes, my husband's gone to Bowlin' Green
To do some business there.
Then Caleb threw that bottle down
And grabbed me by my hair.

Caleb Meyer, your ghost is gonna
Wear them rattlin' chains.
But when I go to sleep at night,
Don't you call my name

He threw me in the needle bed,
Across my dress he lay
Then he pinned my hands above my head
And I commenced to pray.

I cried My God, I am your child
Send your angels down
Then feelin' with my fingertips,
The bottle neck I found

I drew that glass across his neck
As fine as any blade,
And I felt his blood pour fast and hot
Around me where I laid.

Caleb Meyer, your ghost is gonna
Wear them rattlin' chains.
But when I go to sleep at night,
Don't you call my name

Caleb Meyer, your ghost is gonna
Wear them rattlin' chains.
But when I go to sleep at night,
Don't you call my name