(*Tim O'Brien, John Smith) Outside of town where the bodies are buried* The bodies are buried outside of town They decorate the graves with the flowers they carry The flowers they carry all scattered around Old Joe pulls back the weeds from the headstones He cuts the vines that grow in between Old Joe works at the cemetery At the cemetery keeping it clean Old Joe carries a spade and shovel A spade and a shovel to the top of the hill He gets a rhythm and he starts diggin He starts singin with the Whipporwill Joe sees families comin and goin Comin and goin as the years roll by The whole town comes here sooner or later Sooner or later everyone dies Old Joe knows they all had secrets They all had secrets they took to the grave
Old Joe knows the secrets don't die Secrets don't die on the burying day Old Joe knows the hearse will be comin The hearse comes rollin when the church bell tolls Tomorrow morning they'll be prayin and preachin Prayin and preachin right over this hole Old Joe sees the loved ones leavin The loved ones leavin wiping their eyes Old Joe looks where they lowered the casket The ground's still wet from the tears they cried After the body is six feet under Six feet down beneath the clay He walks to the gate as the sun is settin His workin is done for one more day And no one hears the voices risin The voices risin from below the ground No one hears the stories they're telling The songs they sing when the sun goes down