One time I drove to see a girl across the country
One night as I was driving through to Mexico
I had the windows wide open, it was cold and I was crying
And I later laid her on the radio

Then I stopped that side of Tahoe through this tiny mining town
At a diner to be filled for the ride
And in the wind I heard this crying, like a heart broke cried a tune
I turned my collar up and went inside

Well, I saw this smiling waitress joshing friendly with these truckers
That give her pats and she gives them shoves
I said, 'Miss, watch that awful crying', everybody laughed and said
'It’s the tomb of the unknown love'

And then they pointed out the window to this stone
All by myself, beneath the tree, beside the hill
And on that winter night I read these words alone
These words that are haunting me still, it said

Here lies a young man, struck down in his prime
By the awesome burning power of love
He couldn’t stand this true love cheating, so he shot the girl down
They hung him from that tree up above
I know that local folks say it’s the wind
But I know it’s crying from the tomb of the unknown love

So I drove on to my destination
I did the job my heart commanded of me
And when the sheriff sirens came up, I did believe and tried to find
They counted ten, I came out at three

So now I guess tomorrow morning, warden reads some kind of paper
How I’m gonna pay the state for what I’ve done
Hey, didn’t they put their shackles on me and they’ll take a little walk
They won’t have to drag me ‘cos it’s said and done

And maybe someday they can put me at this stone
All by itself, beneath the tree, beside the hill
And lovers everywhere can come and meet alone
These words that forgive them up to, and it’ll say

Here lies a young man, struck down in his prime
By the awesome burning power of love
He couldn’t stand this true love cheating, so he shot the girl down
They hung him from that tree right above
I know that local folks say it’s the wind
But I know it’s crying from the tomb of the unknown love