When first i took the ring off I was surprised to see Another ring just underneath As white as snow can be Through rich and poor, sickness and health Until the day we die Oh, the day i took the ring off I lay right down and cried Oh mother if you're listening Please say a prayer for me I love a lovely lady From the green hills of tennessee I know jesus loves a sinner He must love me most of all Tell brenda i am sorry But there's no love for me in arkansas No love in arkansas That mississippi river It's muddy and it's wide And you can't see what you're leaving 'Til you look back from the other side And there i saw the years i'd spent And all the years i'd left to go I took that ring from my finger And through it in the muddy mississippi river down below Oh mother if you're listening Please say a prayer for me I love a lovely lady From the green hills of tennessee I know jesus loves a sinner He must love me most of all Tell brenda i am sorry But there's no love for me in arkansas