Ma would never say what happened 
And we knew better than push too hard 
We knew we had all the chores to tend to 
Like fixing fences and helping her 
Washing dishes and making coffee 
Me and Virgil would chop some wood 
But we'd stop our swinging 
Just to listen to her crying 
It didn't sound too good 

I can remember too well 

But we never thought to pay much heed 
We learned to live life the best we could 
But then one day pa up and left us 
High and dry without a word 
Seemed a pity 
My ma was pretty 
But I soon learned life ain't that way 
And I can remember hearing her weeping 
While we were sleeping next to her 

I can remember 
I'll never forgive and I'll never forget 
'Cos pa you broke her heart 
Oh pa you broke her heart 
You broke her heart 
Oh pa you broke her heart 

Well the years rolled by 
And 'fore we knew it 
Our sister got married and moved out west 
I stayed with ma 'cos I couldn't desert her 
I knew it would hurt her to be alone 
So we pulled tighter 
Said we'd try to make things easy 
And raise a smile 
But as the night came 
We'd hear her crying 
Praying for pa to come back again 

I can remember 
I'll never forgive him and I'll never forget 
'Cos pa you broke her heart 
Oh pa you broke her heart 

And then the winter came 
I'd never known it colder 
Oh it seemed the worst in years 
And the night she died I swear I saw her smiling 
Saying I was a big boy now no tears 
So I packed up all we had and Virgil got the horses 
And we paid our last respects and gave the whip a crack 
Oh it seemed a big bad world we were riding into 
Me and Virgil both agreed 
We best head off and don't look back 

Nothing but desert all around 
Oh it made me wonder 
Lord it's hard to carry on 
When you're sick with hunger 
Weeks and months of sleeping rough 
Keeping clear of danger 
Seems million miles from anywhere 
I prayed to my God to change it 
You'd best keep your head but don't look back 

Well me and Virgil we beat the desert 
Riding fast and riding hard 
We hit the city the past behind us 
And we raised some hell we had some fun 
But real soon I met a lady oh so pretty 
And oh so fine 
And 'fore too long I found myself married 
With a home of my own and a blue eyed son 
And 'til this day I can hear ma saying to me 
You're a big boy now