Tennessee Wedding Rodney Crowell Let's mock despair with food and wine And tango like we're Argentine While in our wake rose petals rise and fall With expectation in full bloom We'll cast ourselves as bride and groom What love has joined together says it all Life's beauty pageant queen of hearts Those kisses from horse-drawn carts With scented breath and gloved-white hands Your every wish her soft command And when we arrived as honored guests Where John and June were laid to rest In Tennessee the land that gave you life We'll stand before those near and dear And speak these words for all to hear From now until forever, be my wife For your father's arms are hallowed yes To wear your mother's wedding dress With a parasol and walking cane We'll set our course down lover's lane Marry me My dark-eded pearl My raven-haired country girl Marry me And we'll sail away home When another round of day and night Blinks off and on like Christmas lights Each parting shot fired low across the bow With every breath a ray of hope We'll grieve our losses fully yoked To life's eternal passing into now. For generations long since gone And those yet born Will soldier on Til Kingdom come, and then some I promise to be true to you Marry me My dark-eyed swan My morning star My evening sun Marry me And we'll sail away home