Jack and Edie lying across my bed Flying high like the spirits of the dead The living and the dead, the living and the dead Our Lady of Sorrows and the long dark night How many candles could I light For the living and the dead, the living and the dead? What's that black smoke rising Jack, is the world on fire? What's that distant singing, is it a heavenly choir? Of the living and the dead, the living and the dead I think about you Jack, watching the TV And drinking booze Shame on you, shame on me But how can we help it There was nowhere else to go I sent Julie and Billy out on that long hard road
On that long hard road, on that long hard road I'm just back from Mexico City I came back north to Texas to rest my weary head My true love is fresh from the battle field Sewing up the dying and carting off the dead My baby doesn't stand for no fighting amongst the living or the dead What's that black smoke rising Jack, is the world on fire? What's that distant singing, is it a heavenly choir? Of the living and the dead, the living and the dead The living and dead, the living and the dead The living and dead, the living and the dead