Morgan Montague

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jim Lauderdale

A lyric that Robert Hunter posted on the "Frothing At The Mouth" forum on DeadNet Central in 2007. Set to music and recorded by im Lauderdale in 2013.

Oh, I remember good times
but never half so well
as I remember bad times
the dates on which they fell
I stole my brother's saddle
I stole my father's mare
Swore I would return them
to pay the reaper's share
Pay the reaper's share
To pay the reaper's share
Swore I would return 'em
To pay the reaper's share

My name is Morgan Montague
I sprang from foreign seed
I have seen widows born
as lives away men bleed
I always did my duty
as I saw it to be done
maybe some do not agree
who's asking anyone?
asking anyone
asking anyone
maybe some do not agree
who's asking anyone?

When at death's door my father lay
his mare I did return
but kept my brother's saddle
until it came his turn
to face his angry maker
that day came, so did I,
to drop his saddle by his bed
and let that poor man die
let that poor man die
let that poor man die
drop his saddle by his bed
and let that poor man die

My name is Morgan Montague
More I will not say
Circumstance nor birthplace
do I care to give away
I do not since I dare not
otherwise I would
My name is Morgan Montague
You're standing where I stood
Standing where I stood, you're
Standing where I stood
My name is Morgan Montague
You're standing where I stood

You stand where I was standing
when I heard the fatal word
condemned to execution
April twenty third
If I had done the dreadful deed
I would not flinch to die
I'd have strung my own self up
or know the reason why
Know the reason why
Know the reason why
I'd have strung my own self up
or know the reason why

But I am not allowed to rest
while you walk free and tall
with family blood upon your hands
Whatever may befall
my name is Morgan Montague
my duty's call is clear
before the frost is on my grave
you'll lie beside me here
Lie beside me here, love
Lie beside me here
before the frost is on my grave
you'll lie beside me here

"Here lies Morgan Montague
He did not learn to trust
He was once a man like you
But now he's only dust"
This is what I told them
should be my epitaph
but they wrote:"Here lies Montague
God got the final laugh"
Got the final laugh, God
Got the final laugh
They wrote:"Here lies Montague
God got the final laugh"