Part I: Buckaroo Blues
From the Plains to Mexico
We were lyin' on the prairie, on Slaughter's ranch one
night.
With our heads upon our saddles, and a campfire burnin'
bright.
Soon we fell to talkin' of distant friends so dear.
When a boy raised up his saddle, and he wiped (brushed)
away a tear.
Oh, I fell in love with a neighbor girl, her cheeks were
soft and white.
Another feller loved her too, and it ended in a fight
Oh it makes me shake and shudder to think of that awful
night
When Tom and I began to fight, and I stabbed him with my
knife.
I fell down on my knees and tried to stop the blood.
That came out from his side all spurtin'
Like some bright red crimson flood.
And now when I am sleepin' I hear him softly say,
Oh Bob, I know your sorry, but I've gone to a better place.
And yes, I guess I believe it, but I just can't let him go
His dyin' eyes are with me, from the plains to Mexico.
The Theme from Buckaroo Blues
Instrumental
The Stampede
When the hot sun sets and the evenin' gets
....Calm and quiet on the trail.
And the cattle move as their dusty hooves
....Pound the ground beneath their tail.
Noone seems to care if a cowpoke stares
....And he feels he's all alone
So we drove that herd with just a few choice words
....On that night so long ago.
Way on up ahead rode Ol' Texas Red
....A red bandanna on his face.
With his cold gray eyes he searched the northern skies,
....A ridin' with an easy grace.
On the left was Joe on his old pinto,
....And Jim Smith was on his right
As for the other eight, well, they were not so great,
....But we needed `em all that night.
When so to soothe our thirst we had done the worst
....And rode up to a nester's well
With our six guns out and without a doubt
....The nester would defend himself.
Out he quickly came and we all took aim.
....A silver blade was in his hand.
Red pulled out his knife to take the nester's life
....Standin' by him, man to man.
Then all at once appeared with no sign of fear.
....A girl that boldly changed our plans
She walked right up to Red and shook her golden head
....And took the knife right from his hand.
Then she quickly cut the tension in our guts
....With a smile that burned like a brand.
Then that demon girl cut off a golden curl
....And left it in Red's outstretched hand.
From the north black clouds that looked like funeral
shrouds
....Rolled in with an icy breath.
So we faced a fight on that stormy night
....With odds upon the side of death.
In the ghostly hush that fell before the rush
....Came down upon us like a flood
Not a word was spoken as the thunder broke
....Our spurs dug in `til they drew blood.
So we watched that herd become a mob that blurred
....And grew into a raging thang.
Then they turned their tail right back down that trail
....Stampeding from the Norther's stang
Some say that there is beauty in the sound that suits
....The purity of mindless panic
But all that we could see were tons of mindless meat were
....Headed for that nester's shack
Death was now at stake so we had to break
....The rhythm of the raging herd.
Then as the lightning flashed we saw a rider pass
....A ghostly shape with shining spurs.
It was Texas Red who pulled on out ahead,
....And grabbed the girl with hair of gold.
But then we couldn't see because his horse's knee
....Buckled as he hit a hole.
There we found the two where the north wind blew
....Golden hair across his chest.
And her fingers dug into his arms 'til blood
....Had made a pool beside her dress.
On the trail they lay at the break of day.
....As we stood around and stared
At their lips still touchin' and Ol' Red still clutchin'
....A curly lock of golden hair.
The Trail Dance
Instrumental
Bury Me Not
Oh bury me not on the lone prairie.
These words came slow and mournfully
From the bleedin' lips of the youth who lay
On his dyin' bed at the close of day.
He moaned in pain while over his head
The shadows of death grew thick like lead;
He thought of his home and family that night
As the cowboys gathered to watch him die.
"Oh bury me not on the lone prairie
Where the wild coyotes howl over me,
In a narrow grave, just six by three.
Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie."
In dreams I've listened to the well-known words
Of the wild prairie winds and the songs of birds;
I think of the table where my mama put flowers
And the scenes I loved in those long lost hours.
It matters not I've often been told,
Where the body lies when the heart grows cold;
Oh grant, oh grant this wish to me
And bury me not on the lone prairie.
I've always wished to be laid when I died
In a little churchyard on the green hillside;
By my mama's grave please let mine be,
And bury me not on the lone prairie.
Oh, bury me not... And his voice stopped there.
But we took no heed of his dyin' prayer;
In a narrow grave, just six by three...
We buried him there, on the lone prairie.
Cowboy Waltz
Instrumental
Saddle Sores
Oh I would be a cowboy, and with the cowboys stand,
Leather chaps upon me and a six-gun in my hand.
I'd ride a full-stamped saddle, a silver-mounted bit,
With conchos big as dollars, silver spurs to fit;
And out upon the round-up, I'd ride a buckin' horse
And spur him in the shoulder, with my silver spurs, of
course.
The Theme from Buckaroo Blues (Reprise)
Instrumental
Part II: Black Barry
The Gopsel Truth
Instrumental
Shortnin' Bread
Put on de skillet, put on de led
Mammy's gonna make a little shortenin' bread
That ain't all she gonna do
Mammy's gonna make a little coffee, too
Chorus:
Mammy's little baby loves shortenin', shortenin',
Mammy's little baby loves shortenin' bread.
Two little niggers lyin' in de bed
One of 'em sick an de odder 'mos dead
I sent for de doctor, de doctor said
Feed dem chillun' on shortenin' bread.
(Chorus)
Slipped in de kitchen, kicked off de led,
Filled my pockets full o' shortenin' bread.
I stole de skillet, stole de led,
Stole da gal makin' shortenin' bread.
(Chorus)
Black Barry
Instrumental
Forty-Four
I used to live on a dead end street
With a too small woman
With two big feet.
The house was always dark,
We was always poor.
The number outside was 44.
One day bad blood slipped in my mind
Sucked on my soul, made me blind
I thought my baby lied, so I opened up the drawer
Pulled out my bullets and my 44.
Chorus:
Forty Four, Forty Four
I can't hear that number no more.
Forty Four, Forty Four
Don't make me hear that number no more.
I found her in the store with a preacher man
Who laughed when she slapped the gun out' my hand.
A train went by as I ran out the door.
The number on the engine was 44.
(Chorus)
Ridin' that train to New Orleans,
Takin' my tears to a Voodoo Queen.
I just can't live like this no more
Today's my birthday... I'm 44.
Forty four, forty four years old today.
Nobody wants me... So I'm goin' (gwan) away.
Forty four, forty four years old today
And I'm bad and I'm mad
Get outta my way.
I'm forty four, forty four years old today.
Engine 44
Instrumental
New Orleans
Instrumental
Voodoo Queen
Instrumental
What am I Gonna Do?
Chorus:
Where do I go? What do I do?
What do I do, with you?
Where do I go? What do I do, with you?
Somebody said that life is cruel,
I don't know 'bout dat
Life's just cold like a frozen frost,
Unless you light a match.
But dat don't do me no good!
(Chorus)
Seems to me that what you do
Is what life's all about.
What if I got somethin' inside,
But just can't get it out?
It ain't doin' me no good.
(Chorus)
Give me somethin' to lose, give me somethin to gain
Give me somethin' to believe in.
Even if it ain't quite right
Give me somethin' I can pretend.
That might do me some good.
Yeah, uh huh, yeah, that might do me some good!
Organism
Two white horses
A' runnin' side by side.
Me and my Lord,
We gonna take a ride!