blue-haired lady kneeling by her bed trying to recite all the things daddy taught her jesus said blue-haired lady squints into the sun distant voices calling her, maybe from the light comes one: "you served your husband well saved all your kids from hell built from a house a home what say you before you roam?" [chorus:] "well, i walked the straight & narrow kept my eyes on the sparrow i loved, i lost, i tried, i lead, i followed, fell, but forged ahead my time is drawing near and i'm strangely free of fear release me from this flesh & bone but don't let me die alone don't let me die alone" blue-haired lady beginning to arrange paths & plots & closing thoughts, on shifting sands & winds of change all these people speaking loud & slow seeing spots from old snapshots, the clouds fly low in san francisco "momma, who should have your ring?" "do what you want with everything all these things have little worth this could be my last day on earth" [chorus] don't let me die alone don't let me die alone blue-haired lady dying in her bed songs & tears impounding her, fingers clenched & scriptures read dear old woman gives into the pain feels the love surrounding her but gathers the strength to explain “i trained you up how you should go loved you hard, it's clear you know but let the songs & wailing cease children let me die in peace” [chorus] just let me die alone just let me die alone please let me die alone just let me die alone