Jephthah was a judge
Never would he budge
He battled against the Ammonites
The wise-guy went to war
Feeling so secure
So sure to win his fight
J. made a gamble with God
That Israel would beat the odds
If he’d make a sacrifice when he returned:
That whoever walked out his house be burned!

The enemy was delivered into his hands
And Jephthah came home a happy man
‘Til his daughter came outta the door—
O, he prob'ly shoulda thought of that a little more!
Jephthah's daughter died

Jephthah tore his clothes
And brought down very low
He didn’t think to break his vow
The duty must be done
Lest careless words are flung
From tongue, from here, from now
His little girl wants to weep for her womb
And haunt the hills with tears for her tomb
All because her papa was a proud old man
Who spoke too soon and couldn’t understand

The enemy was delivered into his hands
And Jephthah came home a happy man
But his little baby came outta that door—
O, he prob'ly shoulda thought of this a little more!
Jephthah's daughter died

Maybe Uncle Abe
Could’ve tried to save
This sacrifice from being made
‘Cuz Cousin Isaac knows
These old daddy woes
Although it’s not quite the same
Idomeneus and Agammenon
Who can really say if they’re wrong?
It’s happened once before and it’ll happen again
You gotta honor God and the rest is a sin

The enemy was delivered into his hands
And Jephthah came home the happiest man
(In all the land, in all the land, in all the land)
‘Til his daughter came outta the door—
O, he prob'ly shoulda thought of that a little more!
Jephthah's daughter died (so sad)

Dead daughter, dead daughter
Dead daughter, dead daughter