This  song was written by the late U. Utah Phillips. It’s been recorded by a lot of performers. I think it has a lot of legs because on the one hand, it has a beautiful, sweet melody, but on the other, it features some very bitter lyrics. Here is is performed by Utah’s pal Rosalie Sorrels.

Here’s Bobby Neuwirth performing it…

Buddy and Julie Miller…

Geez, they really nail this tune, don’t they?

Finally, here’s Tony Norris, telling the story of the song…