Dolly Parton

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 could help

Why I know everybody's secrets

But I keep it to myself

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

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 tenI 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 'uz 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 'uz adopted

Did you know you once't was 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

It must'a worked

I guessThis 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 to 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 give me somethin' special

Now every time

I throwThese 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 how they scatter

Tells you what the future holds

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

I just tell you what

I seeIt'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

Ah you know girl

I want you to take these bones'

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

You just remember that the magic is inside you

There ain't no crystal ball