Wonder why I feel so restless;
Moon is shinin' still and bright,
Cattle all is restin' easy,
But I just kain't sleep tonight.
Ain't no cactus in my blankets,
Don't know why they feel so hard—
'Lesst it's Warblin' Jim a-singin'
'Annie Laurie' out on guard.
'Annie Laurie'— wish he'd quit it!
Couldn't sleep now if I tried.
Makes the night seem big and lonesome
And my throat feels sore inside.
How my Annie used to sing it!
And it sounded good and gay.
Nights I drove her home from dances
When the east was turning gray.
Yes, 'her brow was like the snowdrift'
And her eyes like quiet streams,
'And her face' — I still can see it
Much too frequent in my dreams;
And her hand was soft and trembly
That night underneath the tree,.
When I couldn't help but tell her
She was 'all the world to me.'
But her folks said I was 'shif'less,'
'Wild,' 'unsettled.,'— they was right,
For I leaned to punchin' cattle
And I'm at it still tonight.
And she married young Doc Wilkins—
Oh my Lord! but that was hard!
Wish that fool would quit his singin'
'Annie Laurie' out on guard.
Oh I just kaint stand it thinkin;
Of the things that happened then.
Good old times, and all apast me!
Never seem to come again—
My turn? Sure. I'll come a runnin'.
Warm me up some coffee, pard—
But I'll stop that Jim from singin'
'Annie Laurie' out on guard.