it sat beside his bed as near as it could go   he read it every night just before he'd go   asleep for the night with his dreams in a fight, god save his soul   his mama'd say to him, don't be afraid son. there's no way you'll go      all the way down   all the way down   all the way down   all the way down      his mama tells him, read it and you'll be alright   he took its every word and made it his life      all the way down   all the way down   all the way down   all the way down      he never stood a chance with his coughing at night   he never thought we'd ever make it out of the light now