BEFORE JESSE DIED
(Tom T. Hall)


Tom T. Hall - 1984



She sat on the barstool, she smoked and she drank
Till the past became clear and the future went blank
In the past she regains all her beauty and pride
But that was before Jesse died

Jessie, her husband, was small, he was lean
Drove a big yellow earth movin' machine
They had a new pick-up, the joy of their lives
But that was before Jesse died

She used to go shoppin' for pretty young clothes
Had her hair done on Thursdays and her nails and her toes
And on weekends they'd dance til the first mornin' light
But that was before Jesse died

On weekends they'd cook out and watch all the games
Jessie knew all of the best players names
The sun shined so bright, it put tears in your eyes
But that was before Jesse died

When Jessie got sick he was thirty years old
He said it ain't nothin', but a little light cold
And he worked till the pain wouldn't ease or subside
And that was before Jesse died

Now she sits on the stool with a glass in her hand
She smiles and she talks to a travelin' man
And there was a time she would turn down a ride
But that was before Jesse died

She sat on the barstool, she smoked and she drank
Till the past became clear and the future went blank
In the past she regains all her beauty and pride
But that was before Jesse died



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2018)