General Store - Don McLean

Mornin', Mrs. Campbell

Lovely day today

I heard about the fire

I wonder what the papers say

Let’s see now:

Give me fifty shotgun shells

And a hundred feet of rope

Just add that to my bill

Says here there ain’t no hope

They all were burned alive

And four packs of cigarettes

No, I think I’ll make it five

I heard about the wedding

I’m so happy for the bride

Why that fire house looked mighty nice

And the whole town swelled with pride

We’ve watched her grow to womanhood

She’s found an upright man

She’ll learn this life ain’t easy

You do the best you can

No, no, my family ain’t so good

My wife just had a spell

And I can’t afford the medicine

She needs to make her well

I’ve been laid off at that factory

For sixteen months or more

I came home last Wednesday evenin'

I found her lyin' on the floor

Bye now, Mrs. Campbell

Say howdy to your son

You can tell him we’ll go huntin'

When he gets a bigger gun

It was too bad about that fire

But don’t you get me wrong

We’ve gotta teach these people

How to stay where they belong