What I seen, my wife ain’t heard
What I heard, my kids don’t know
What I done, I know would kill
Whatever love they bear me still
When I come home, it’s just the same
Though you know, you know, I said a prayer
But I don’t know
I’m just a name
Cause that boy my mama bore so long ago is over there.
Over there, over there, over there.
Over there, over there
That boy is over there.

What they ask, I just can’t tell
What I tell, they don’t believe
What I dream I won’t forget
At least I ain’t forgot it yet
They say I’m home, but how can they be?
When I don’t feel like I’m anywhere
I feel a ghost, not really me.
Cause that boy my mama bore is somewhere buried over there.
Over there, over there, over there.
Over there, over there
This boy is over there.

So we stood outside the carnival and watched the twenties roar.
Shell-shocked fools like us we couldn’t take it anymore
We slipped away like strays to sleep in any darkened door
And tried to hold on tight to what the world tried to ignore.
Over there, over there, over there.
Over there, over there
Your boys are over there.

What I need they still won’t give
And what I gave I can’t get back.
And what I have does me no good
And how could I have thought it would?
So I’ll leave home, I’ll ride the rails
And I’ll tell them what they owe, I swear
But this I know, if all else fails
I’ll get that boy my mama loved back from over there.
Over there, over there, over there.
Over there, over there.