The kettle burned 'cause I left it too long
And we were kissing with the radio on
The cat was choking on a rattlesnake bone
The town had gathered 'round the soldier boy carried home
Carried home
The sick kids ate a bowl of red clay
And every summer day was ending in rain
The late judge teetered in a john boat
The town had gathered 'round the soldier boy carried home
Carried home
The broken window and the pretty blue sky
And cold water for my swollen black eye
We shook some money from your mother's old clothes
When all had gathered 'round the soldier boy carried home
Carried home