Dress Of Laces

And she has a dress of laces

It's worn in many places

And the shoulder hangs upon her by a thread

And she has a need for sharin'

For someone warm and carin'

And no one sees a heart that's underfed



Young girl in love

Young girl in tears

She hasn't seen the man

She loves in years



And her mother is a waitress

At the harbor bar, good graces

Where the seamen come a fishin' with their lines

And it was one of them that caught her

And left her with a daughter

Who lives with hate and loving him in mind



Young girl in love

Young girl in tears

She hasn't seen the man

She loves in years



So the young girl goes to the water

And she calls out for her father

But she ain't seen the old man in some time

Yes, and he was always boastin'

Just a drinkin' and a toastin'

And one day he left his family far behind



Young girl in love

Young girl in tears

She hasn't seen the man

She loves in years



So the mother comes home a drinkin'

With a sailor who's a thinkin' out loud

That he might stay with them awhile

So she loads her mother's pistol

And she shoots him as he whistles

A song about a sailor's life in style



Young girl in love

Young girl in tears

She kills the only man

She's loved in years

And with him dies her hopes

Her dreams, her fears



And she has a dress of laces

It's worn in many places

The shoulder hangs upon her by a thread

And she has a need for sharin'

For someone warm and carin'

And no one sees a heart that's underfed

And no one sees a heart that's underfed