It was the first time ever he saw her
He saw his future in a long white cotton gown
Sittin' there at the church house, she was gonna get baptized
They was gonna have dinner on the grounds

So the very next Friday, he got off at the sawmill
He slicked his hair back, he had a pocket full of pay
When she opened up the front door, he was grinnin' like a possum
As he handed her a daisy, she heard him say

Hey, let's go dancin' to the tune of a twenty dollar bill
They've got a fine fiddle band at the barn up on the hill
And by midnight we just might wind up dancin' standin' still
By my daddy's lantern light, let me walk you home

After they got married, it didn't seem like no time
They just sayin' their goodbye's, he's a goin' to the big world war
'Bout a lifetime later, she's a waitin' at the depot
He said I ain't a gonna leave you, no, never no more

Said let's go dancin' to the tune of a twenty dollar bill
They've got a fine fiddle band at the barn up on the hill
And by midnight we just might wind up dancin' standin' still
By my daddy's lantern light, let me walk you home

In front of friends and kinfolk and all of us grandkids
In the same little church house, in a long white cotton gown
He bent down and he kissed her, he said, I'm right behind you, honey
It wasn't long 'til we laid him in the ground

And now they're dancin' to the tune of a twenty dollar bill
They've got a fine fiddle band at the barn up on the hill
And by midnight they just might wind up dancin' standin' still
By the Father's lantern light, they're walkin' home