Interpret:

Kenny Rogers

Album:

Through the Years: A Retrospective

One time I drove to see a girl 
across the country
One night as I was driving 
through to Mexico
I had the windows wide open, 
it was cold and I was crying
And I later laid her on the radio


Then I stopped that side 
of Tahoe through this tiny mining town
At a diner to be filled for the ride
And in the wind I heard this crying, 
like a heart broke cried a tune
I turned my collar up and went inside


Well, I saw this smiling waitress 
joshing friendly with these truckers
That give her pats and 
she gives them shoves
I said, "Miss, watch that awful crying", 
everybody laughed and said
"It? s the tomb of the unknown love"


And then they pointed out 
the window to this stone
All by myself, beneath the tree, 
beside the hill
And on that winter night 
I read these words alone
These words that are haunting 
me still, it said


Here lies a young man, 
struck down in his prime
By the awesome burning 
power of love
He couldn? t stand this true love 
cheating, so he shot the girl down
They hung him from that tree up above
I know that local folks say 
it? s the wind
But I know it? s crying from 
the tomb of the unknown love


So I drove on to my destination
I did the job my heart commanded of me
And when the sheriff sirens came up, 
I did believe and tried to find
They counted ten, I came out at three


So now I guess tomorrow morning, 
warden reads some kind of paper
How I? m gonna pay the state 
for what I? ve done
Hey, didn? t they put their shackles 
on me and they? ll take a little walk
They won? t have to drag me? 
cos it? s said and done


And maybe someday they can 
put me at this stone
All by itself, beneath the tree, 
beside the hill
And lovers everywhere can come 
and meet alone
These words that forgive them up to, 
and it? ll say


Here lies a young man, 
struck down in his prime
By the awesome burning power of love
He couldn? t stand this true love cheating, 
so he shot the girl down
They hung him from that tree right above
I know that local folks say 
it? s the wind
But I know it? s crying from 
the tomb of the unknown love