A

[Verse 1]
      A
I was just 23 when Lorene married me
  D                        A
A good woman's greatest mistake

She was carrying my child but I was too young and wild
        B                        E
For the burdens that marriage creates

[Verse 2]
   A
So just like a coward I looked for a way out
  D                          A
I went where the Slank River flows
  D                 A
I left her a note inside of my coat
                   E            A
And quickly walked off down the road

[Verse 3]
  A
Lorene stood and shivered while they dragged the river
        D                       A
For the body that was not to be found

I watched from a hill while they had my funeral
     B             B7         E
From there I could hear every sound

[Verse 4]
           A
There were friends and relations
                              D                       A
And they all kept saying what shame it was I chose to die
        D                              A
But the thing that still haunts me and tears at my conscience
                    E             A
Is the sound Lorene made when she cried

[Chorus]
D                             A
Black velvet lace covered her face
                                   E
But her grieving was too strong to hide
         A
Yes, the thing that still haunts me and tears at my conscience
                    E             A      Bb
Is the sound Lorene made when she cried

[Verse 5]
      Bb
After two years of hiding with my shame locked inside me
Eb                        Bb
My conscience led me back home

To a small country graveyard where a plain wooden marker
      C                             F
Had Lorene's name carved next to my own

[Verse 6]
    Bb
Now I stand and shiver at the banks of the river
  Eb                      Bb
Lorene seems to beckon to me
Eb                       Bb
Death like an old friend whispers come on in
                  F             Bb
And I'll put your conscience to sleep

[Chorus]
Eb                            Bb
Black velvet lace covered her face
                                   F
But her grieving was too strong to hide
         Bb
Yes, the thing that still haunts me and tears at my conscience
                    F             Bb
Is the sound Lorene made when she cried

[Outro]
Bb
As I go under the last I remember
                    F             Bb    Eb  Bb  F  Bb
Is the sound Lorene made when she cried