Kenny Rogers - Tomb Of The Unknown Love Lyrics

My papa Micheal Smotherman wrote this song. It made it to #1 on the Billboard chart.

"Tomb Of The Unknown Love"

One time I drove to see a girl across the country
One night as I was driving through New Mexico
I had the windows wide open
It was cold and I was crying
And I laid her letter on the radio
Then I stopped outside of Tahoe
thru this tiny mining town
At a diner to refill for the ride
And in the wind I heard this crying
Like a heart broke right in two
I turned my collar up and went inside.

Well, I saw this smiling waitress
Joshing friendly with these truckers
They'd give her pats and she'd give them shoves
I said: "Miss what's that awful crying?"
Everybody laughed and said:
"It's the tomb of the unknown love"
And then they pointed out the window to this stone
All by itself, beneath the tree, beside the hill
And on that winter night
I read these words alone
These words that are haunting me still, it said:

Here lies a young man struck down in his prime
By the awesome burning power of love
He couldn't stand this true love cheating
So he shot the girl down
They hung him from that tree up (right) above
I know that local folks say it's the wind
But I know it's crying
from the tomb of the unknown love.

So I drove on to my destination
I did the job my heart commanded of me
And when the sheriff sirens came
I didn't even try to fight
They counted ten, I came out at three
So now I guess tomorrow morning
Warden reads some kind of paper
How I'm gonna pay the state for what I've done
Hey, then they'll put the shackles on me
And we'll take a little walk
They won't have to drag me 'cos it's said and done
And maybe someday they can put me up a stone
All by itself, beneath the tree, beside the hill
And lovers everywhere can come and read along
These words that will give them a chill
and it'll say:
Here lies a young man

I have always loved Kenny Rogers songs Perhaps from the composition of the song sound, artistry in delivery and of course th e instrumentation.Indeed I had subscribed to his fan club way back in early high school.
Admittedly I have only come to discover only too recently that the song tomb of the unknown love is and surely must be his greatest song ever.
I trust he is hale and hearty.
God bless Kenny and his fy.

Awesome burning power of love

One of my best Kenny 's songs

Love it country music ❤️❤️

2018 Anyone...?

I get chill bumps when I here this song..... You just don't get that in today's country music

I've heard this track many times,thanks to one of my beauties from Sri Lanka. Sonale, surely miss you a lot babe.

Simply Awesome!!!

Em wasn’t first Kenny was, several of his songs too

I don't know how to describe Kenny but you have got what it takes.. you give a true definition of country music...i love you

A true country legend! Thank you for helping me to continue believing in Love

Kenny you the best Darling... your songs bring back old memories of my late dad he was my inspiration..he loved country music and so do I..

Love "20 years ago" also...great song...

Got hooked on this when I first heard it years ago!

Same here I first heard it believe I was about 17 or so

This is the best country music of all times.

One of the best country song love it always!

First heard this on an old Kenny Rogers album I have, still may have it.

I like this song very much.

First heard this in mid 1986 in the base bowling alley at Charleston Naval Station.

my younger sister loves this song!

my fav right from high school Kenny I love your songs

One of the greatest lines in country music: " here lies a young man struck down in his prime by the awesome, burning power of love."

you guys do realize this song was barred from the Radio station for a while

Patricia Toborg - really!!! why!?

@Patricia Toborg No kidding! WOW! I'm not being a smartass I genuinely didn't know that. I remember when it came out then all of the sudden it was gone. I love this one.

"The Sheriff counted 10 and l came out at 3."

I just wish that she knew how I felt, and maybe we would've had a chance.

It's one of my favorites.  It reminds me of my girl from high school who I loved, but I was too stupid to tell her how I felt, then she hung herself in 2001, and I've never gotten over it.  I still love you, my baby N.B.  Always and Forever.

Ahhh! That's SO SAD!

My all-time favourite country music..

Really  love that song amongst many others.  Really love Kenny Rogers's voice.

My favourite,thumbs up

I could hear Jimmy Buffet doing this song.

I haven't heard this song since 1986-my mother used to listen to Paul Harvey ("and that's the rest of the story...") on the radio in the morning while she was dropping me off at school. I was only 10. I've remembered the lyrics all my life, but never knew it was Kenny Rogers. On a whim I searched them, and this is what I found. Nostalgia, indeed.

i love this song,its awesome ,its good .the best of ken have ever heard.

Another good one

This March i will be 45 first time i heard on of Kenny Rogers was on The Muppet Show i was 10 yrs old i have had the fortune of seeing Kenny Rogers in concert 9 times i have a signed tamberian he threw straight at my mom in 1986 i also have a ty bear i took to get hugged by him in 1988 the only way to loose him singing is when the day he dies its too much in his blood to not do what he does if i get another chance to see him and take my kids to see him again i will do so hes that good.

KENNY ROGERS IS THE BEST OF THE BEST!!!!

Of all the songs by Kenny Rogers,The Tomb of the Unknown Love is my FAVORITE one.

I wouldn't have wasted a good bullet on mine!!! May she rest in pieces...although she's still amongst the living!!

I don't know who's meaner, you for that comment, or me for laughing this hard! (Forgive me, Lord)

catman5169 - five years ago you wrote this - I have just seen it and I am giggling just as much as Regina Eiland........ speak your truth brother!!!! Women make guys do crazyyyyyy things!

Regina Eiland - one year later, I have had a good laugh! I mean LOUD too.... Humorous!!!

I did get to see Kenny in concert...before he struck it big on his own; at the time he was with the First Edition. To show you how long ago it was...he didn't have gray hair---all jet black!!

kenny song are all grait im 23 and love is music lol i

ACC's #34 song of '86. God bless ya, brother Kenny. Thanx, Colombia, for postin' it. Have a blessed weekend!

ive never seen kenny in concert but he is coming to klienhans music hall december 21st 2011 and i will be going come hell or high water

i love kennys music and wold love to meet him can eny one help iv bein to see him twice but he whas off stage and away be4 i got the chance to meet him is ther eny way of contacting the agent or suming

Written by Michael Smotherman

@kencountrylove yes really we must no good music these days

I have been hoping someone would post this one.

I havent' heard this song in years! I searched all over the internet and this is the only place I could find it. It is truly a forgotten classic. Thank you for posting it.

I Love This Kenny Rogers 1986 Hit, "Tomb Of The Unknown Love," Which Became The #1 Country Hit In America.

Kenny hit #1 in Billboard, 5-24-86. God bless!

The electric guitar at 0:45 is great ... I wanted to buy it but it was too expensive for me. Now someone else bought it unfortunately. But great pictures love em