Bill Horton was a cautious man of the road

He walked lookin' over his shoulder and remained faithful to its code

When something caught his eye he'd measure his need

And then very carefully he'd proceed



Billy met a young girl in the early days of May

It was there in her arms he let his cautiousness slip away

In their lovers twilight as the evening sky grew dim

He'd lay back in her arms and laugh at what had happened to him



On his right hand Billy tattooed the word love and on his left hand was the word

fear

And in which hand he held his fate was never clear

Come Indian summer he took his young lover for his bride

And with his own hands built a great house down by the riverside



Now Billy was an honest man he wanted to do what was right

He worked hard to fill their lives with happy days and loving nights

Alone on his knees in the darkness for steadiness he'd pray

For he knew in a restless heart the seed of betrayal lay



One night Billy awoke from a terrible dream callin' his wife's name

She lay breathing beside him in a peaceful sleep, a thousand miles away

He got dressed in the moonlight and down to the highway he strode

When he got there he didn't find nothing but road



Billy felt a coldness rise up inside him that he couldn't name

Just as the words tattooed 'cross his knuckles he knew would always remain

At their bedside he brushed the hair from his wife's face as the moon shone on

her skin so white