Jeannie C. Riley - What Was Her Name Lyrics

Oh what was her name she used to sit next to me in math

Had the saddest eyes I'd ever seen and like me she was only sixteen

What was her name she was so silent and strange

Then the word leaked out and time brought about the truth and the tragedy began

She was only sixteen and married and married to a law-breaking man

And lovin' him and trustin' him as only a young girl can

He looked so exciting and different to the eyes of this innocent child

He said I'll marry you and carry you through a life exciting and wild

Oh what was her name I see her so well in my mind

Especially that day right after school when I saw her for the last time

The sheriff's car was there she looked so small and alone

As they put her inside and drove out of sight I was scared and ran all the way home

They were tryin' to make her betray him but she refused to understand

How the love of her life could be mixed up with a dirty thieving man

So she never said a word against him and finally they set her free

When she met him that night she was surprised when he said

That's the last time you'll squeal on me

When the first bell rang the next morning she was sittin' on the schoolhouse steps

Leaning 'gaist the rail she looked so pale I asked a friend if she was asleep

The last bells rang and still she didn't move as we all started to class

So June went over to her sayin' come on the last bells has rang

That's when she saw the knife in her back oh heck what was her name