The Way it Goes 
Gillian Welch
The Harrow and the Harvest - 2011

Capo 1

[Verse 1]


Becky Johnson 

bought the far

m

Put a needle i

n her arm
           
That's the way

 that it goes 
           
That's the way


And her brothe

r laid her dow

n

In the cold Ke

ntucky ground
           
That's the way

 that it goes
           
That's the way


[Chorus]

             
That's the way

         
 that it goes
             
Everybody's bu

              
ying little ba

            
by clothes
             
That's the way

         
 that it ends
             
Though there w

              
as a time when

            
 she and I wer

   
e friends


[Verse 2]


Well, Miranda 

ran away

Took her cat a

nd left LA
           
That's the way

 that it goes 
           
That's the way


She was busted

, broke and fl

at

Had to sell th

at pussy cat
           
That's the way

 that it goes 
           
That's the way


[Chorus]

             
That's the way

         
 that it goes
             
Everybody's bu

              
ying little ba

            
by clothes
             
That's the way

         
 that it ends
             
Though there w

              
as a time when

            
 he and I were

   
 friends


[Verse 3]


See the bright

est ones of al

l

Early in Octob

er fall
           
That's the way

 that it goes 
           
That's the way


While the dark

 ones go to be

d

With good whis

key in their h

ead
           
That's the way

 that it goes 
           
That's the way


Now Billy Joe'

s back in the 

tank

You tell Musso

, I'll tell Fr

ank
           
That's the way

 that it goes 
           
That's the way


Did he throw h

er down a well

?

Did she leave 

him for that s

well?
           
That's the way

 that it goes 
           
That's the way


[Chorus]

             
That's the way

         
 that it goes
             
Everybody's bu

              
ying little ba

            
by clothes
             
That's the way

         
 that it ends
             
Though there w

              
as a time when

            
 all of us wer

   
e friends


[Verse]


When you lay m

e down to rest

Leave a pistol

 in my vest
           
That's the way

 that it goes 
           
That's the way


Do you miss my

 gentle touch?

Did I hurt you

 very much?
           
That's the way

 that it goes 
           
That's the way


[Chorus]

             
That's the way

         
 that it goes
             
Everybody's bu

              
ying little ba

            
by clothes
             
That's the way

         
 that it ends
             
Though there w

              
as a time when

            
 you and I wer

   
e friends