It was the first time ever he saw her

He saw his future in a long white cotton gown

Sittin’ there at the church house she was gonna get baptized

They’s a gonna have a dinner on the ground

So the very next Friday he got off at the sawmill

He slicked his hair back he had a pocket full of pay

When she opened up the front door he was grinnin' like a possum

As he handed her a daisy she heard him say

Chorus:

Hey lets go dancin’ to the tune of a twenty-dollar bill

They got a fine fiddle band at the barn up on the hill

And by midnight we just might wind up dancin’ standin’ still

By my daddy’s lantern light I’ll walk you home

After they got married it didn’t seem like no time

He was a sayin’ the good-bye’s he’s a goin to the big world war

About a lifetime later she’s a waitin at the depot

He said I ain’t a gonna leave you no never no more

Chorus:

He said let’s go dancin’ to the tune of a twenty-dollar bill

They got a fine fiddle band at the barn up on the hill

And by midnight we just might wind up dancin’ standin’ still

By my daddy’s lantern light let me walk you home

In front of friends and people and all of his grand kids

At the same little church house in a long white cotton gown

He bent down and he kissed her and said "right behind you hon"

It wasn’t long till we laid him in the ground

Chorus:

And now they’re dancin to the tune of a twenty-dollar bill

They’ve got a fine fiddle band at the barn up on the hill

And by midnight they just might wind up dancin standin still

By the father’s lantern light they’re walkin home