[Verse 1]
It was the first time ever he saw her
He saw his future in a long white cotton gown
Sitting there at the church house
She was gonna get baptized
They was gonna have dinner on the grounds
So the very next Friday
He got off at the sawmill
He slicked his hair back
He had a pocket full of pay
When she opened up the front door
He was grinning like a possum
As he handed her a daisy
She heard him say
[Chorus]
Say let's go dancing to the tune of a twenty dollar bill
They've got a fine fiddle band at the barn up on the hill
And by midnight we just might wind up dancing, standing still
By my daddy's lantern light
I'll walk you home
[Verse 2]
After they got married
It didn't seem like no time
They just saying their goodbye's
He's a going to the big world war
About a lifetime later
She's a waitin' at the depot
He said I ain't a gonna leave you
No, never no more
[Chorus]
Said let's go dancing to the tune of a twenty dollar bill
They've got a fine fiddle band at the barn up on the hill
And by midnight we just might wind up dancing standing still
By my daddy's lantern light
Let me walk you home
[Verse 3]
In front of friends and kinfolk
And all of us grandkids
In the same little church house
In a long white cotton gown
He bent down and he kissed her
He said, I'm right behind you, honey
It wasn't long 'til we laid him in the ground
[Chorus]
And now they're dancing to the tune of a twenty dollar bill
They've got a fine fiddle band at the barn up on the hill
And by midnight they just might wind up dancing standing still
By the father's lantern light
They're walking home