Written by: Cindy Walker
Performed by: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson
Appears on: Highwayman-1985, The Hiwayman Collection-2000, et al.
[Nelson:]
Jim, Jim, I wore a tie today,
The first one that I ever wore.
You'd have said that I looked like a dummy,
Out of a dry goods store.
[Cash:]
Jim, Jim, the preacher said a lot of things,
But I didn't hear a word he said.
My mind kept wanderin' back down that trail,
Back to the times that we've had.
[Both:]
Ridin' herd through the sun and the rain.
Pannin' for gold on the cuff.
We did everything in the books, I guess.
And a lot that they never read or thought up.
Oh, Jim, Jim, so you're ridin' on ahead,
Well, if that's how it's goin' to be.
When you reach those streets paved with gold,
Jim, stake a claim out for me.
[Spoken:]
[Cash:]
We did everything we could do for you, Jim.
But your fever just wouldn't go down.
[Nelson:]
So we put you in the wagon, Jim.
And this mornin' we got you back to town.
[Cash:]
But when we got here, you were gone, Jim.
And there wasn't anything anybody could do.
[Nelson:]
They dressed you up in a fancy suit and a necktie,
So, today we wore one too.
[Sung:]
[Both:]
Ridin' herd through the sun and the rain.
Pannin' for gold on the cuff.
We did everything in the books, I guess.
And a lot that they never read or thought up.
Oh, Jim, Jim, so you're ridin' on ahead,
Well, if that's how it's goin' to be.
When you reach those streets paved with gold,
Jim, stake a claim out for me.
