He's the only son to be born in the widow's house   The only son to be born in the widow's house   The only son to be born   In a house so torn   He's the only son to be born in the widow's house   He took his name like a hammer in his hand   He took his name like a hammer in his hand   He took his name in his hand   From a dying man   He took his name like a hammer in his hand   Everywhere that he would go      And he paid once for the deed   He paid twice in his hour of need   One more time for the old church bell   And his daddy died   Before he opened his eyes   And his mother would never tell      Never go out there on your own   Don't you ever go out there on your own   I'm telling you not to go where the wide water flows   Don't you ever go out there on your own   The secret lies in a New Orleans hotel   The secret lies in a New Orleans hotel   The secret lies in a bed   With the covers over its head   The secret lies in a New Orleans hotel   Where the yellow roses grow      And he paid once for the deed   He paid twice in his hour of need   One more time for the old church bell   And his daddy died   Before he opened his eyes   And his mother would never tell      Someday it'll come to you   Like a freight train coming through a heavy mountain rain   You'll know what you're going to do   When you see you're making the very same mistake      You'll pay once for the deed   You'll pay twice in your hour of need   One more time for the old chuch bell   And your daddy died   Before you opened your eyes   And your mother would never tell