Wonder why I feel so restless
Moon is shinin' still and bright
Cattle all are restin' easy
But I just can't sleep tonight
Ain't no cactus in my blankets
Don't know why they feel so hard
'Less it's Warblin' Jim a-singin'
"Annie Laurie" out on guard
"Annie Laurie", I wish he'd quit it
Couldn't sleep now if I tried
Makes the night feel big and lonesome
And my throat feels sore inside
How my Annie used to sing it
And it sounded good and gay
Nights I drove her home from dances
When the east was turnin' gray
Yes, her brow t'was like the snowdrift
And her eyes like quiet streams
And her face, I still can see it
Much too frequent in my dreams
And her hand was soft and trembling
That night underneath the tree
When I couldn't help but tell her
She was "all the world to me"
But her folks says I was shif'less
Wild, unsettled, they's right
For I leaned to punchin' cattle
Lord, I'm at it still tonight
And she married young Doc Wilkins
My Lord, but that was hard
Wish that fool would quit his singin'
"Annie Laurie" out on guard
Oh I just can't stand it thinkin'
Of the things that happened then
Good old times, they're all apast me
Never seem to come again
My turn? Sure, I'll come a-runnin'
Just warm me up some coffee, pard
And I'll stop that Jim from singin'
"Annie Laurie" out on guard
Give me her promise true
And ne'r forget will I
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me down and die