Lyrics: Gillian Welch. Caleb Meyer.

Caleb Meyer, he lived alone, in them hollerin' pines

And he made a little whiskey for himself, said it helped to pass the time

Long one evening, back of my house, Caleb come around

And he called my name till I went out, with no one else around



Caleb Meyer, your ghost is gonna wear them rattlin' chains

But when I go to sleep at night, don't you call my name



"Where's your husband, Nellie Cane, where's your darling gone,

Did he go on down the mountain side, and leave you all alone?"

"Yes, my husband's gone to Bowling Green, to do some business there"

Then Caleb threw that bottle down, and grabbed me by my hair



Caleb Meyer, your ghost is gonna wear them rattlin' chains

But when I go to sleep at night, don't you call my name



He threw me in the needle bed, 'cross my dress he lay

Then he pinned my hands above my head, and I commenced to pray

I cried, "my God, I am your child, send your angels down"

Then feeling with my fingertips, the bottle neck I found

I drew that glass across his neck, fine as any blade

Then I felt his blood pour fast and hot around me where I lay



Caleb Meyer, your ghost is gonna wear them rattlin' chains

But when I go to sleep at night, don't you call my name

Caleb Meyer, your ghost is gonna wear them rattlin' chains

But when I go to sleep at night, don't you call my name