Purple Pearl

Purple Pearl stepped out one day
with purpose in her stride;
she headed straight down Procter Street
the day her marriage died.

She headed straight down Procter Street
to Lawson's County Jail.
"I want to see my man." she said
"I've come to pay his bail."

"I want to see my man." she said
"I need him back at home."
She laid a wad of money down
And went to use the phone.

She laid a wad of money down
and called her son, McGill.
Trooper Jake just gave a shrug
And figured up the bill.

Trooper Jake just gave a shrug
and then unlocked the cell
Out stepped Purple Pearl's old man
Like he'd just crawled from Hell.

Out stepped Purple Pearl's old man
He grinned at Trooper Jake
He said "Come on, give me my keys;
I've a couple stops to make."

He said "Come on, give me my keys.
So Trooper Jake complied.
Meanwhile Pearl had slipped away
and thumbed herself a ride.

Meanwhile Pearl had slipped away
and met up with her son.
"Hurry,drive home quick!" she said
"This day's work isn't done."

"Hurry, drive home quick!" she said
and he sped up the hill.
At home, she said "I love you, Boy,
but Pa's got one more thrill."

At home, she said "I love you, Boy.
But dang, our life is hard.
The drinkin' and the beatin's
keep us constantly off guard."

"The drinkin' and the beatin's,
Boy you know; it's just not right."
"I'll kill him, Ma!", he offered up
but she said "Not tonight!"

"I'll kill him, Ma!". he offered up
But Pearl had other plans.
She dug down deep inside her heart
and stayed her trembling hands.

She dug down deep inside her heart
and said a little prayer;
Reached up to the closet shelf,
and found the shoebox there.

Reached up to the closet shelf
and brought the shoebox down.
"Get in the truck; I need you, Son,
to take me back to town."

"Get in the truck; I need you, Son,
to help me through this day.
I prayed and prayed to Jesus,but
He ain't had much to say."

"I prayed and prayed to Jesus,but
He ain't heard a word I said.
Ain't nothin' gonna stop this shit
til one of us is dead."

"Ain't nothin' gonna stop this shit."
"Oh, Ma, I know its bad."
He dropped his head into his hands
and whispered "He's my Dad."

He dropped his head into his hands
then drove his Ma to town.
They headed towards the The Dew Drop Inn
Boy prayed she'd settle down.

They headed towards the The Dew Drop Inn
She slowly walked inside.
The room was dark but she could see.
His whore sat by his side.

The room was dark but she could see.
He saw her right away.
He laughed as she walked towards him.
and he said "Today's the day!".

He laughed as she walked towards him
but she stopped a step away.
He said "I'm gonna whup you, Pearl.
so just go on home and stay."

He said "I'm gonna whup you, Pearl."
But she said "No. You're not.
I made a wedding vow to you.
I never have forgot."

I made a wedding vow to you
Only death can make us part.
But I ain't gonna kill you now
I just ain't got the heart.

"But I ain't gonna kill you now."
She reached into her purse
and slowly pulled a pistol out
"Don't want to make things worse."

She slowly pulled a pistol out
and eased the hammer back
Pearl aimed that gun right at her head
"I can't take no more, Mack."

Pearl aimed that gun right at her head
Mack stared with dark eyes wide.
Purple Pearl stepped out one day
the day her marriage died.