Josh Ritter Follow

Louis Collins took a trip out west
When he returned, little Delia had gone to rest
The angels laid her away

Louis said to Delia 'That's the sad thing with life: there's people always leavin' just as other folks arrive.'
The angels laid her away

When the people heard Delia was dead
All of them gentlmen they dressed in red
The angels laid her away

Angels laid her away
Laid her six feet under the clay
the angels laid her away

Louis went downtown for a new suit of clothes
He's gonna dress up for Delia like a fine red rose
The angels laid him away

He brought a ten-gallon Stetson
It was ox blood red
Stacker Lee shot Louis in the back of the head
The angels laid him away

Oh Stacker Lee said to Louis,
'Oh now don't you grieve. I'm sending you to Delia, you won't ever have to leave.'
The angels laid him away

Angels laid him away
They laid him six feet under the clay
The angels laid him away

His name was Hangin' Billy Lyons
He said 'You've always been a bad man, Stack, you gonna hang this time.
The angels lay you away.'

And the jailer said to Stacker Lee 'What's the problem with you?'
'Aw jailer, Louis Collins' ghost brought Delia's with him, too.'
The angels laid them away

Angels laid him away
They laid him six feet under the clay
The angels laid him away

Well they buried little Delia
In the church yard deep
With Louis Collins at her head
Stacker Lee at her feet
The angels laid them away

And out of Delia's bed came briars
Out of Louis's bed a rose
Out of Stacker Lee's came Stacker Lee's cold lonely little ghost
Angels laid them away

And I'm looking over rooftops
And I'm hoping that it ain't true
That the same God looks out for them Looks out for me and you
Angels laid them away
Angels laid them away
Angels laid them away

Louis Collins took a trip out west
When he returned, little Delia had gone to rest
The angels laid her away