Black Ribbons - Gretchen Peters

I built this house

With my bare hands

On the shores of Lousian

Took my sweet cher Jolie Ann

For my own

My very own

Now every man

Has got his pride

I tried to shelter and provide

But I can't stop this poison tide

Rollin' in

Rollin' in

Now I've got nothing left to give her

No answer to her prayers

Black ribbons on the water

Black ribbons for her hair

Then came the wind

Then came the rain

We defied that hurricane

And we built this house again

Stone by stone

Stone by stone

But in the Gulf of Mexico

Some five thousand feet below

Oh the devil's blood it flows

On and on

On and on

I've got nothing left to give her

No answer to her prayers

Black ribbons on the water

Black ribbons for her hair

Oh how her eyes

They used to shine

Fairest in evangeline

Now they stare so cold and blind

Through my soul

Oh Lord my soul

She was tangled in the saltgrass

Not a bullet

Left to spare

Black ribbons on the water

Black ribbons for her hair

Black ribbons on the water

Black ribbons for her hair