Released on January 5, 1976

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[Verse 1]

I married Isis on the fifth day of May

But I could not hold on to her very long

So I cut off my hair and I rode straight away

For the wild unknown country where I could not go wrong


[Verse 2]

I came to a high place of darkness and light

Dividing line ran through the center of town

I hitched up my pony to a post on the right

Went in to a laundry to wash my clothes down


[Verse 3]

A man in the corner approached me for a match

I knew right away, he was not ordinary

He said “Are you looking for something easy to catch?”

Said “I got no money”

He said “That ain't necessary”


[Verse 4]

We set out that night, for the cold in the North

I gave him my blanket, and he gave me his word

I said “Where are we going?” He said we’d be back by the fourth

I said “That’s the best news that I’ve ever heard”


[Verse 5]

I was thinking about turquoise, I was thinking about gold

I was thinking about diamonds, and the world’s biggest necklace

As we rode through the canyons, through the devilish cold

I was thinking about Isis, how she thought I was so reckless


[Verse 6]

How she told me that one day we would meet up again

And things would be different the next time we wed

If I only could hang on and just be her friend

I still can’t remember all the best things she said


[Verse 7]

We came to the pyramids, all embedded in ice

He said “There’s a body I’m trying to find

If I carry it out it’ll bring a good price”

'Twas then that I knew what he had on his mind


[Verse 8]

The wind it was a-howlin', and the snow was outrageous

We chopped through the night

And we chopped through the dawn

When he died, I was hopin' that it wasn’t contagious

But I made up my mind that I had to go on


[Verse 9]

I broke into the tomb, but the casket was empty

There was no jewels, no nothing! I felt I’d been had

When I saw that my partner was just being friendly

When I took up his offer I must have been mad


[Verse 10]

I picked up his body and I dragged him inside

Threw him down in the hole, and I put back the cover

I said a quick prayer, then I felt satisfied

Then I rode back to find Isis, just to tell her I love her


[Verse 11]

She was there, in the meadow, where the creek used to rise

Blinded by sleep, and in need of a bed

I came in from the East, with the sun in my eyes

I cursed her one time, then I rode on ahead


[Verse 12]

She said “Where you been?”

I said “No place special”

She said “You look different”

I said “Well... I guess”

She said “You been gone”

I said “That’s only natural”

She said “You going to stay?”

I said “If you want me to, yes"


[Verse 13]

Isis, oh, Isis, you mystical child

What drives me to you is what drives me insane

I still can remember the way that you smiled

On the fifth day of May in the drizzling rain