Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie Chords & Lyrics by Johnny Cash

Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie

guitar chords lyrics

Johnny Cash

G G6 Em Em7 Em/G G
"Oh bury me not on the lone Prairie"
G G6 Em Em7 Em Em4 G
These words came low and mourn - ful - ly
G G(5) G Gm7
From the pallid lips of a youth who lay
G Em Em7 G
On his dying bed at the close of day.

G G6 Em Em7 Em/G G
He has wasted and pined 'til o'er his brow
G G6 Em Em7 Em Em4 G
Death's shades were slowly gathering now.
G G(5) G Gm7
He thought of home and loved ones nigh,
G Em Em7 G
And the cowboys gathered to see him die.


G G6 Em Em7 Em/G G
"Oh bury me not on the lone Prairie,
G G6 Em Em7 Em Em4 G
Where the coyotes howl and the wind blows free.
G G(5) G Gm7
In a narrow grave just six by three
G Em Em7 G
Oh bury me not on the lone Prairie."


G G6 Em Em7 Em/G G
"It matters not, I've oft been told,
G G6 Em Em7 Em Em4 G
Where the body lies when the heart grows cold.
G G(5) G Gm7
Yet grant, oh grant, this wish to me,
G Em Em7 G
Oh bury me not on the lone Prairie."


G G6 Em Em7 Em/G G
"I've always wished to be laid when I died
G G6 Em Em7 Em Em4 G
In a little churchyard on a green hillside.
G G(5) G Gm7
By my father's grave there let me be,
G Em Em7 G
Oh bury me not on the lone Prairie."


G G6 Em Em7 Em/G G
"I wish to lie where a mother's prayer
G G6 Em Em7 Em Em4 G
And a sister's tear will mingle there.
G G(5) G Gm7
Where friends can come and weep o'er me.
G Em Em7 G
Oh bury me not on the lone Prairie."


G G6 Em Em7 Em/G G
"For there's another whose tears will shed
G G6 Em Em7 Em Em4 G
For the one who lies in a Prairie bed.
G G(5) G Gm7
It breaks my heart to think of her now,
G Em Em7 G
She has curled these locks; she has kissed this brow."


G G6 Em Em7 Em/G G
"Oh bury me not..." And his voice failed there
G G6 Em Em7 Em Em4 G
But they took no heed to his dying prayer.
G G(5) G Gm7
In a narrow grave, just six by three,
G Em Em7 G
They buried him there on the lone Prairie.


G G6 Em Em7 Em/G G
And the cowboys now as they roam the plain
G G6 Em Em7 Em Em4 G
For they marked the spot where his bones were lain,
G G(5) G Gm7
Fling a handful of roses o'er his grave
G Em Em7 G
With a prayer to God, his soul to save.