ruination day

And the great barge sank and the Okies fled
And the Great Emancipator took a bullet in the head
In the head...took a bullet in the back of the head

It was not December and it was not in May
It was the 14th day of April, that is Ruination Day
That's the day, the day that is Ruination Day

They were one, they were two
There were three, they were four
They were five hundred miles from their home
From their home...they were five hundred miles from their home

When the iceberg hit, then they must have known
That God moves on the water, Casey Jones
Casey Jones...God moves on the water, Casey Jones

It was not December and it was not May
Was the 14th of April, that is ruination day
That's the day...the day that is ruination day.

-- Gillian Welch