Hal Ketchum › Lyrics › I Miss My Mary

A threadbare alibi, a lifetime full of promise
Fell from my Mary's eyes as she saw the screen door swing
The baby never woke, he lay cradled in her trembling
He lay safe and never knowing what my leavin' would bring

I draw my pay down on the docks, I send it off to Mary
I might hold back a dollar and wash this pain out of my back
But the pain keeps getting clearer and Mary your face just keeps on fading
Now the light shines through this bottle, memories all fade to black

Well, I'll see you out on the street tonight
I'm a lover of a drink, a lover of a fight
Hold my own on the dark side of this town

Yes, I'm tough as nails, got a heart of steel
I will never fear for I will never feel
And one more round would surely set me right
I miss my Mary tonight

They call me the old man in this bar, sleeves rolled up and showin'
Faint blue souvenirs of love and places I have been
One says 'US Navy' and this one says 'Darling Mary'
My Mary's turned to ashes and the ocean's turned to gin

Well, I'll see you out on the street tonight
I'm a lover of a drink, a lover of a fight
Hold my own on the dark side of this town

Yes, I'm tough as nails, got a heart of steel
I will never fear for I will never feel
Oh, and one more round would surely set me right
I miss my Mary tonight

Yeah, one more round would surely set me right
I miss my Mary tonight