Recommended by Ebbie on 18 May 2001:


MY BETTER YEARS
by Hazel Dickens
As recorded by Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard on "Hazel & Alice" (1973)

CHORUS: Well, you're back on my doorstep a-cryin'
Like I cried for all those lonely years,
But I can't dry your tears.
It's been too long since love was here,
And I've already gave you my better years.

And so the pages of time kept right on turning.
They never stopped for us to harvest the years.
And old embers of love kept right on dying,
'Cause there was no one to dry my tears

But I'll try not to blame you.
I'll try not to shame you.
All I can do now is wish you well,
But if you should need a friend,
I'll be there till the end.
Oh, but don't ask me to love you again.

Don't come back on my doorstep a-crying
Hoping for what's been dead so long,
For the embers have long turned to ashes.
There's nothing here but old mem''ries and this song.

No don't come back on my doorstep a-crying
My friend, there's nothing but old mem'ries and this song.