Well, I wrote a story Got put in the paper About all the bridges I've burned For the last part I lied But you know it don't matter 'Cause they'll print anything that's a cert And if I was a shadow On a long, lonely gallows They'd hang me and pull off my lip 'Cause making up stories was all I could do And you know that the truth ain't worth shit Now, so much has happened Since I ran with the Union And the ink never dried in the grass Well, the numbers got plenty I assure you that many Had been added by me for a gas And if I was a shadow On a long, lonely gallows They'd hang me and cut off my lip 'Cause making up stories was all I could do And you know that the truth ain't worth shit My home was the scene of A quarrelsome Mary Who flared up whenever I spoke So I'd write her some letters Washed down in adventure And my bed would be lonely no more And if I was a shadow On a long, lonely gallows They'd hang me and cut off my lip 'Cause making up stories was all I could do And you know that the truth ain't worth shit And if I was a shadow On a long, lonely gallows They'd hang me and cut off my lip 'Cause making up stories was all I could do And you know that the truth ain't worth shit And if I was a shadow On a long, lonely gallows They'd hang me and cut off my lip 'Cause making up stories was all I could do And you know that the truth ain't worth shit