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lyrics

Jasper Watkins

Jasper Watkins was a friend o' mine, he always made it to the church on time
he was always so kind and good to me, loved his friends and family
even on that cold November eve when I saw what men weren't meant to see

Oh Jasper Watkins, what have you done, with your cold steel knife and a loaded gun
you apologized like a gentleman, before you did them poor folks in
your clothes were a-glistenin' steamin' red, you left behind a trail of the dyin' and the dead
but you needn't come back from this journey, just said "now it all makes sense to me."

Oh Jasper Watkins, tell me what do you see
and I pray to God whatever devil took you
wouldn't ever take a hold of me

It started in the park by the old town square, our little church was havin' us a social there
with cider and apples and games and such, there was dancin' and drinkin' but not too much
He was minglin' as normal in his finery, then he took a little evenin' stroll down the street

come back with a bloody Sunday-meetin' dress ,that he bought for the woman that he loved the best
produced a nickel pistol from within his breast, and sent his darlin' babes to their final rest
when out come a dagger to his own best friend, I stood frozen there, more died some fled
the quiet compassion never left his face, of mania nor malice there not a trace
a look in his eye of knowing pity, as he finished with his work and he looked at me

CHORUS

Before he went to the hangman's tree, he told the particularly strange story
of the night on that cold November eve, first to the preacher man and then to me
said he didn't see demons nor enemies, only loving friends and family
and he wasn't even drinkin' nor ever angry, just suddenly knew what God had made him to be

killed 'em all for no reason with his heart still kind, breakin' up inside him for the grievin' left behind
but he felt deep within him for the very first time, not a care nor a trouble worryin' his mind
as he sank that steel again and again, first in his family and then his friends
and I asked him why he had spared me, he only sighed and said "one day you'll see."

CHORUS

credits

from Where The Heather Don't Grow, released April 1, 2008

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Black Jake & The Carnies Ypsilanti, Michigan

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