Once upon a time in the southeast was a girl She got sick from the monkeys teaching her to spell the words She dreamed of turning eighteen singing songs we never heard But she became a dancer fighting cancer on her own Her daddy was a miner in those mountains near the road Her mommy kept her secrets in a jar she never showed He's drinking by the river stealing silver from his mine Secrets turn to regrets when they try to cross the line No matter what you try, you will die Life will get you like once upon a time No matter what you try, you will die Life will get you like once upon a time Once upon a time in the southeast was a girl Shot dead by the voices making noises in her mind She sang for pretty horses, for the trees and butterflies She fought the city forces and she always won the fight She laid down in the borders then she slowly closed her eyes & Sang for silly soldiers what she called 'the final fight' No matter what you try, you will die Life will get you like once upon a time No matter what you try, you and I I'll forget you like once upon a time Maybe I'm just sinning for people who hate me Maybe I'm just singing for people who hate me Maybe I'm just sinning for people who hate me Maybe I'm just singing for people who hate me Once upon a time in the southeast was a girl She got sick from the monkeys teaching her to spell the words She dreamed of turning eighteen singing songs we never heard But she became a dancer fighting cancer on her own.