Texty: Tom T. Hall. Before Jessie Died.

She sat on the bar stool, she smoked and she drank
Till the past became clear and the future went blank
In the path she regains all her beauty and pride
But that was before Jessie died

Jessie, her husband was small, he was lean
Drove a big yellow earth moving machine
They had a new pick-up, the joy of their lives
But that was before Jessie died

She used to go shopping for pretty young clothes
And her hair done Thursdays and her nails and her toes
And on weekends they danced till the first morning light
But that was before Jessie died

On weekends they'd cook out and watch all the games
Jessie knew all of the best players names
The sunshine so bright it put tears in your eyes
But that was before Jessie died

When Jessie got sick he was thirty years old
They said, "It ain't nothing but a little light cold"
And he worked till the pain wouldn't ease or subside
And that was before Jessie died

Now she sits on the stool with a glass in her hand
She smiles and she talks to a travelin' man
And there was time she would turn down a ride
But that was before Jessie died

She sat on the bar stool, she smoked and she drank
Till the past became clear and the future went blank
In the path she regains all her beauty and pride
But that was before Jessie died