The north wind blows a prairie fire across the open plain A light shines on the granite stone where someone carved my name Sister find the preacherman Daddy call the law Things have gotten out of hand Here in Arkansas An icy ring around the moon a fire across the sky They buried me this afternoon and left me here to die Sister find the preacherman Daddy call the law Things have gotten out of hand Here in Arkansas Sheriff Clark, Reverend Friend, Mrs. Worthington Told my family that I'd be the end to all they've done Sister find the preacherman Daddy call the law Things have gotten out of hand Here in Arkansas Mother raised the children and daddy worked the farm I was born the seventh son of the seventh born Sister find the preacherman Daddy call the law Things have gotten out of hand Here in Arkansas All the elders did decree my soul to be unclean They strapped me to a gurney and gave me morphine Sister find the preacherman Daddy call the law Things have gotten out of hand Here in Arkansas Sister walks into the night and prays my soul to save And underneath the cold moonlight she finds my open grave Sister find the preacherman Daddy call the law Things have gotten out of hand Here in Arkansas The north wind blows a prairie fire Here in Arkansas