Townes Van Zandt — Sixteen Summers Fifteen Falls

[Intro] Let me tell you a story about a girl I knew Fairest skin with eyes of blue I swear to the Lord that I loved her true It's a year now she's been gone [Verse 1] Well, her spirit was as bright as the soft sunshine Lips, the color of strawberry wine I wish to God she still was mine But the chance won't come again [Verse 2] After first, we lay in love's sweet bed With one look at her eyes, I might have read All the pain that was flying through her head Through my guilt, I could not see [Verse 3] I turned to her when the morning came Hungry thoughts racing through my brain But the knife in her heart screamed herself she's slain And a note whispered "loved too soon" [Verse 4] Her old man screamed and her mother cried All I could do was to wonder why A girl in her youth was forced to die Is loving such a crime? [Verse 5] She died few in years with breasts still small Seeing sixteen summers and fifteen falls Me and my blindness never realized all The fear she kept inside [Outro] Let me tell you a story about a girl I knew Fairest skin with eyes of blue I swear to the Lord that I loved her true