l once had a sweetheart, the fairest of maidens She out shined all others that I'd known by far I had a friend, big fella, name of Big Harlan Taylor Harlan had a rubber-tired new shiny car Oh, the ways of the world and the wants of a woman If l figured them all out it would take many years By the wants of a woman she fell for Big Harlan I tried but in vain for to take my own life Suddenly l had lost all my will to keep livin' She'd lost her desire to become my young wife Oh, the ways of the world and the wants of a woman If l figured them all out it would take many years Well, l wanted revenge and waylaid for Big Harlan Then l started wondering what good would it do? If a rubber-tired new shiny car's her ambition Then I'll just let her have it and Big Harlan too Oh, the ways of the world and the wants of a woman If l figured them all out it would take many years If l figured them all out it would take many years