At general delivery, she picks up her mail Mama says Johnny just got out of jail She hopes he don't know where she's at How could she have ever loved that kind of cat But she remembers the dance in the moonlight >From the hall to the back of his car He taught her how to drink whiskey Three chords on a pawnshop guitar She remembers the first time he kissed her Back when the feeling was new She sang the Red River Valley For the cowboy who loved her so true She's working each night at what she knows best Hangin' in bars, a professional guest She picks up a young buckaroo Because he reminds her of someone she knew The telephone rings off the hook by her bed The other end's Johnny, a gun to his head He said, You always look good in black The next thing she heard was a bone-chilling crack She pulled into town just at sunrise Mama had strong coffee on She said, You know he's always been crazy It's best for us all that he's gone So at the request of the family Service was held for a few She sang the Red River Valley For the cowboy who loved her so true But she remembered the dance in the moonlight >From the hall to the back of his car He taught her how to drink whiskey Three chords on a pawnshop guitar She remembered the first time he kissed her Back when the feeling was new She sang the Red River Valley For the cowboy who loved her so true