[Strophe]
Em 
Becky Johnson bought the farm 
Em 
Put a needle in her arm 
           B7 
That's the way that it goes  
           Em 
That's the way
[Strophe]
Em 
And her brother laid her down 
Em 
In the cold Kentucky ground 
           B7 
That's the way that it goes 
           Em 
That's the way
[Refrain]
           G           Em 
That's the way that it goes 
     C                         G         D 
Everybody's buying little baby clothes 
           G           Em 
That's the way that it ends 
             C              B7               Em 
Though there was a time when she and I were friends
[Strophe]
Em 
Well, Miranda ran away 
Em 
Took her cat and left LA 
           B7 
That's the way that it goes  
           Em 
That's the way
[Strophe]
Em 
She was busted, broke and flat 
Em 
Had to sell that pussy cat 
           B7 
That's the way that it goes  
           Em 
That's the way
[Refrain]
           G           Em 
That's the way that it goes 
     C                         G         D 
Everybody's buying little baby clothes 
           G           Em 
That's the way that it ends 
             C              B7               Em 
Though there was a time when he and I were friends
[Strophe]
Em 
See the brightest ones of all 
Em 
Early in October fall 
           B7 
That's the way that it goes  
           Em 
That's the way
[Strophe]
Em 
While the dark ones go to bed 
Em 
With good whiskey in their head 
           B7 
That's the way that it goes  
           Em 
That's the way
[Strophe]
Em 
Now Billy Joe's back in the tank 
Em 
You tell Musso, I'll tell Frank 
           B7 
That's the way that it goes  
           Em 
That's the way
[Strophe]
Em 
Did he throw her down a well? 
Em 
Did she leave him for that swell? 
           B7 
That's the way that it goes  
           Em 
That's the way
[Refrain]
           G           Em 
That's the way that it goes 
     C                         G         D 
Everybody's buying little baby clothes 
           G           Em 
That's the way that it ends 
             C              B7               Em 
Though there was a time when all of us were friends
[Strophe]
Em 
When you lay me down to rest 
Em 
Leave a pistol in my vest 
           B7 
That's the way that it goes  
           Em 
That's the way
[Strophe]
Em 
Do you miss my gentle touch? 
Em 
Did I hurt you very much? 
           B7 
That's the way that it goes  
           Em 
That's the way
[Refrain]
           G           Em 
That's the way that it goes 
     C                         G         D 
Everybody's buying little baby clothes 
           G           Em 
That's the way that it ends 
             C              B7               Em 
Though there was a time when you and I were friends