These old bones will tell your story these old bones will never lie

These old bones will tell you surely what you can't see with your eye

These old bones I shake and rattle these old bones I toss and roll

And it's all in where they scatter tells you what the future holds



Oh she lived up on the mountain eleven miles or so from town

With a one-eyed cat named Wink a Billy goat and a blue tick hound

Her graying hair was braided and wrapped around her head

And her dress was long and faded and her home a rusty shed



In a little pouch of burlap tied with a piece of twine

There were bones all shapes and sizes gathered through the course of time

She'd throw them out before you she swore that she could see

The present past and future she could ready your destiny



Everybody knew about her came to get their fortune read

Concerning health and wealth and power who to love and when to wed

Well I just like helpin' people I'm just glad that I can help

Why I know everybody's secrets but I keep it to myself ha ha ha



These old bones will tell your story...



Some called her witchy woman some said she was insane

Some said she was a prophet still everybody came

Just because a body's different well that don't make 'em mad

Well they've crucified a many for the special gifts they've had



I had often heard about her dreamed about her now and then

For I too was clairvoyant came about when I was ten

I was fascinated with her and the things I'd heard about

And I knew some day I'd meet her and one day it came about



Well I know'd that you's a comin' I could feel it in my bones

These old bones have also told me that I won't be here for long

Did you know that you'd adopted did you know you once twas mine

But the county took you from me said I wasn't right in mind



But I just know'd I had to see you fore these bones was laid to rest

So I conjured up a message ha ha it must've worked I guess

This gift runs in the family I know you also know

And I passed this gift on to you these old bones they're just for show



These old bones will tell your story these old bones will never lie

These old bones will tell you surely how you'll live and when you'll die

These old bones I shake and rattle these old bones I toss and roll

And it's all in where they scatter tells you what the future holds



I held her hand while she was dyin' and with the funeral through

I headed on back up the mountain for Billy Wink and Blue

And that little pouch of burlap with those bones so worn and old

She gave me somethin' special now every time I throw



These old bones will tell your story...



Now I can't tell you what you want to hear I just tell you what I see

It's these old bones a talkin' blame it on them don't pack it on me

It's just like that time that there boy died up at the sawmill

Well I know'd who done it but I never said

And I know'd when somebody is a cheatin'

Or when somebody's baby was gonna be born dead

But unless somebody just plain out and asked me

Well I just figured there ain't no point goin' around actin' like you know

Everything just cause you might ha ha ha

Ah you know girl I want you to take these bones

Cause I don't want no young'un of mine a goin' around unprepared

You just remember that the magic is inside you there ain't no crystal ball