We were just getting by living out our days
Never had too much money but we always had food to eat
Momma done raised me right
She taught me to say my prayers
Daddy taught me the way to measure a man was by how he cares
For those he loves
By what he does
That words don't mean nothin'
When there are things that need to be done
They say bad things come in threes
So I'm goin' down down
I lost momma to consumption I lost daddy to the plow
But I'm just sittin' here waitiin' for the angel
With that big black chariot
He's gonna get this killing done
It was a September Sunday
Momma was baking bread
Daddy was tending the horses
I was really sick in bed
I heard the kettle clack
Momma fell to the floor
Blood was coming from her mouth and nose
I got up and I ran to her
But she didn't last for very long
She'd been losing weight for days I'm sorry that I didn't know
They say bad things come in threes
So I'm going down down
I lost momma to consumption I lost daddy to the plow
But I'm just sitting here waiting for the angel
With that big black chariot
He's gonna get this killing done
They say bad things come in threes
So I'm going down down
I lost momma to consumption I lost daddy to the plow
But I'm just sitting here waiting for the angel
With that big black chariot
He's gonna get this killing done
Daddy was so broken
He started coughing too
But he kept working the land you know
Because "that's what a man should do"
He was angry at the Lord
But he told me not to fret
He said, "you've gotta keep believin' son even if you think
That god let you down, remember it'll pass"
Those horses kept on plowing while he fell into the grass
Bad things come in threes
So I'm going down down
I lost momma to consumption I lost daddy to the plow
But I'm just sittin' here waitin' for the angel
With that big black chariot
He's gonna get this killing
Get this killing
Get this killing done