Michael Martin Murphey

You're out tonight with someone new
You think I'll stay right here and wait for you
This time you're wrong I'm almost gone
Walking out the door is all I've got left to do

I'm gonna get so lost I'm gonna find myself again
I'm gonna drift away like woodsmoke in the wind

There's a place I know high up in the snow
Waitin' for me like a long lost friend
And there I'll build a fire as I watch the flames grow higher
I'll give this heartache time to mend

I'm gonna get so lost I'll find myself again
I'm gonna drift away like woodsmoke in the wind
Gonna get so lost I'll find myself again
I'm gonna drift away like woodsmoke in the wind

As I watch the seasons turn I wonder what I've learned
I wonder if I'll ever love again
Does it always end the same is love a dying flame
That drifts away like woodsmoke in the wind

I'm gonna get so lost...
Gonna get so lost...

She comes down yellow mountain on a dark flat land she rides
On a pony she named Wildfire
With a whirlwind by her side
On a cold and drafty night

Oh they say she died one winter
When there came a chilling frost
And the pony she named Wildfire
Busted down his stall
In a blizzard he was lost
She ran calling Wildfire (3 times)

By the dark of the moon I planted
But there came an early snow
There's been a hoot owl howling outside my window now
For six nights in a row
She's coming for me I know
And on Wildfire we're both gonna go
We'll be riding Wildfire (3 times)

On Wildfire we're going to ride her
Gonna leave it all behind
Yes she's always shining right out of my mind
Riding Wildfire

She comes down yellow mountain on a dark flat land she rides
On a pony she named Wildfire
With a whirlwind by her side
On a cold and drafty night

Oh they say she died one winter
When there came a chilling frost
And the pony she named Wildfire
Busted down his stall
In a blizzard he was lost
She ran calling Wildfire (3 times)

By the dark of the moon I planted
But there came an early snow
There's been a hoot owl howling outside my window now
For six nights in a row
She's coming for me I know
And on Wildfire we're both gonna go
We'll be riding Wildfire (3 times)

On Wildfire we're going to ride her
Gonna leave it all behind
Yes she's always shining right out of my mind
Riding Wildfire

She comes down yellow mountain on a dark flat land she rides
On a pony she named Wildfire
With a whirlwind by her side
On a cold and drafty night

Oh they say she died one winter
When there came a chilling frost
And the pony she named Wildfire
Busted down his stall
In a blizzard he was lost
She ran calling Wildfire (3 times)

By the dark of the moon I planted
But there came an early snow
There's been a hoot owl howling outside my window now
For six nights in a row
She's coming for me I know
And on Wildfire we're both gonna go
We'll be riding Wildfire (3 times)

On Wildfire we're going to ride her
Gonna leave it all behind
Yes she's always shining right out of my mind
Riding Wildfire

She comes down from Yellow Mountain
On a dark, flat land she rides
On a pony she named Wildfire
With a whirlwind by her side
On a cold Nebraska night

Oh, they say she died one winter
When there came a killing frost
And the pony she named Wildfire
Busted down its stall
In a blizzard he was lost
She ran calling Wildfire x 3

By the dark of the moon I planted
But there came an early snow
There's been a hoot-owl howling by my window now
For six nights in a row
She's coming for me, I know
And on Wildfire we're both gonna go
We'll be riding Wildfire x 3
On Wildfire we're gonna ride
Gonna leave sodbustin' behind
Get these hard times right on out of our minds
Riding Wildfire

When The Work's All Done This Fall

1. A group of jolly cowboys, discussing plans at ease
Says one, I'll tell you something, boys, if you will listen, please
I am an old cow-puncher, you see me dressed in rags
I used to be a good one boys, and went on great big jags

2. I have got a home boys, a good one you all know
Although I haven't seen it since very long ago
I'm headed back to Dixie once more to see them all
I'm going to see my mother when the work's all done this fall

3. When I left my home, boys, my mother for me cried
She begged me not to go, boys, for me she would have died
My mother's heart is aching, breaking for me, that's all
With God's help I'll see her when the work's all done this fall"

Instrumental Break

4. That very night this cowboy went out to stand his guard
The night was dark and cloudy and storming very hard
The cattle, they got frightened and rushed in wild stampede
The cowboy tried to head them while riding at full speed

5. Riding in the darkness, so loudly he did shout
Trying hard to head them and turn the herd about
His saddle horse did stumble and on him it did fall
He'll not see his mother when the work's all done this fall

Instrumental Break

6. "Send my mother my wages, boys, the wages I have earned
I am so afraid, boys, the last steer I have turned
I'm headed for a new range, I hear my Master call
I'll not see my mother when the work's all done this fall

7. Fred, you take my saddle, George, you take my bed
Bill, you take my pistol after I am dead
Then think of me kindly when you look upon them all
I'll not see my mother when the work's all done this fall"

8. Charlie was buried at sunrise, no tombstone for his head
Nothing but a little board, and this is what it said
"Charlie died at daybreak, he died from a fall
He'll not see his mother when the work's all done this fall"

I've been looking at people
And how they change with the times
And lately all I've been seeing are people
Throwing love away and losing their minds

Maybe it's me who's gone crazy
But I can't understand why
All these lovers keep hurting each other
When good love is so hard to come by

So what's the glory in living
Doesn't anybody ever stay together anymore
And if love never lasts forever
Tell me what's forever for

And I see love hungry people
Tryin' their best to survive
When right there in their hands
Is a dying romance
And they're not even trying to keep it alive

So, what's the glory in living
Doesn't anybody ever stay together anymore
And if love never lasts forever
Tell me what's forever for

So what's the glory in living
Doesn't anybody ever stay together anymore
And if love never lasts forever
Tell me what's forever for

She hasn't had time to learn about this world
She takes each day the way it comes
And she can get sad but she's just a little girl
She doesn't ask much from anyone

But what she wants is you and me
Love at home like it used to be
And what she wants is what we were
The way we loved when we had her

She's only a child but all the tears are real
She may wish they didn't show
She hasn't got words to tell us how it feels
She tries so hard to let us know

That what she wants is you and me
Love at home like it used to be
And what she wants is what we were
The way we loved when we had her

You may think it's not enough
That she wants us back in love
And I won't beg and I won't plead
But what she wants is what I need

What she wants is you and me
Love at home like it used to be
And what she wants is what we were
The way we loved when we had her
The way we loved when we had her

Starin' at the south end of north bound cattle
Slavin' in the saddle all day
You've got to be some kind of natural born fool
To want to live your life this way

Well it can't be the cooking, it sure ain't the money
The devil made the horse that I ride
The days are too long and the nights are too short
And the boss ain't never satisfied

So what am I doing here Lord? What am I doing here?
There's got to be something better up there
So what am I doing here?

Sometimes I wonder in the lightning and the thunder
If a cowboy's even got a prayer
And why'd you have to make it so hard down here
When things are so much better up there

Now the Lord called His angels all around the throne
Said, "Boys I must be wastin' my time
Cause I thought I gave the cowboy a pretty good life
Now he's complaining 'til the day he dies"

Way high up in
the Sierry Peaks
Where the yellow-jack pines grow tall,
Old Buster Jiggs and Sandy
Bob
Had a round-up camp last fall.

Well they took along their running
irons
Maybe a dog or two,
And they 'lowed thy'd brand every long-eared calf
That came
within their view.

Now every little long-eared dogie
That didn't push up by
day,
Got his long ears whittled and his old hide scorched
In a most artistic
way.

One fine day, says Buster Jiggs,
As he throws his seago down,
"I'm tired
of cowpiography
And I think I'm a goin' into town."

Well they saddled up, and they
hit a lope
For it warn't no sight of a ride,
And them was the days that a good
cow-punch
Could oil up his insides.

Well they started in at Kentucky Bar,
At
the head of Whisky Row,
And they wound her up at the Depot House
About forty drinks
below.

Well they sets 'em up and they turns around
And they started in the other
way,
And to tell the God-forsaken truth
Them boys got drunk that day.

They was
on their way, goin' back to camp
A-packin' that awful load,
When who should they meet but
the Devil himself
Come a-traipsin' down the road.

He says, "You ornery cowboy
skunks
You better go hunt for your holes,
'Cause I've come up from Hell's rim
rock
Just to gather in your souls.

"The Devil be damned," says Buster
Jiggs,
"Us boys is a little bit tight;
But you don't go gatherin' no cowboys'
souls
Without one helluva fight."

Now Buster Jiggs could ride like hell
And
throw a lasso, too,
So he threw it over the Devil's horns
And he took his dallies
true.

Now Sandy Bob was a reata man
With his gut-line coiled up neat;
But he
shook her out and he builds a loop
And he roped the Devils hind feet.

Well they
stretches him out and they tails him down
While the running-irons were getting hot,
And
they cropped and swallow-forked his ears
And they branded him up a lot.

Well they
trimmed his horns way down to his head
Tied ten knots in his tail for a joke,
Then they
went off and left him there
Tied up to a little pin oak.

Now when you're high in the
Sierry Peaks
And you hear one hell of a wail,
Well you know it's just the Devil
himself
Yellin' 'bout them knots in his tail.

I'm a roaming cowboy riding all day long,
Tumbleweeds around me sing their lonely song.
Nights underneath the prairie moon,
I ride along and sing this tune.

See them tumbling down
Pledging their love to the ground
Lonely but free I'll be found
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.

Cares of the past are behind
Nowhere to go but I'll find
Just where the trail will wind
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.

I know when night has gone
That a new world's born at dawn.

I'll keep rolling along
Deep in my heart is a song
Here on the range I belong
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.

There's a yellow rose of Texas
That I am going to see
No other soldier knows her
No soldier, only me.
She cried so when I left her
It like to broke my heart
And if I ever find her
We never more will part.

She's the sweetest rose of color
This soldier ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew.
You may talk about your dearest May
And sing of Rosa Lee
But the Yellow Rose of Texas
Beats the belles of Tennessee.

Oh, my heart is feeling weary
And my head is hanging low
I'm goin' back to Georgy
To find my Uncle Joe.
You may talk about your Beauregard
And sing of Bobby Lee
But the Gallant Hood of Texas
He raised Hell in Tennessee.

There's a yellow rose of Texas
That I am going to see
No other soldier knows her
No soldier, only me.
She cried so when I left her
It like to broke my heart
And if I ever find her
We never more will part.

She's the sweetest rose of color
This soldier ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew.
You may talk about your dearest May
And sing of Rosa Lee
But the Yellow Rose of Texas
Beats the belles of Tennessee.

Oh, my heart is feeling weary
And my head is hanging low
I'm goin' back to Georgy
To find my Uncle Joe.
You may talk about your Beauregard
And sing of Bobby Lee
But the Gallant Hood of Texas
He raised Hell in Tennessee.

As I walked out in the streets of Laredo,
As I walked out in Laredo one day,
I spied a young cowboy wrapped up in white linen,
Wrapped in white linen as cold as the clay.

"Oh beat the drums slowly and play the fife lowly;
Singy the Death March as you carry me along.
Take me to the valley, there lay the sod o'er me,
I'm a young cowboy and know I´ve done wrong."

"I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy."
These words he did say as I boldly walked by.
"Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story;
Got shot in the breast and I know I must die!"

"My friends and relations they live in the Nation:
They know not where their dear boy has gone.
I first came to Texas and hired to a ranchman,
Oh I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong."

"It was once in the saddle I used to go dashing:
It was once in the saddle I used to go gay.
First to the dram house and then to the card house,
Got shot in the breast and I'm dying today."

"Get six jolly cowboys to carry my coffin;
Get six pretty maidens to sing me a song.
Put bunches of roses all over my coffin,
Put roses to deaden the sods as they fall."

"Go gather around you a group of young cowboys,
And tell them the story of this my sad fate.
Tell one and the other before they go further,
To stop their wild roving before it's too late."

"Oh, bury me beside my knife and my shooter,
My spurs on my heels, my rifle by my side.
And over my coffin put a bottle of brandy,
That the cowboys may drink as they carry me along."

"Go fetch me some water, a cool cup of water
To cool my parched lips," the poor cowboy then said.
Before I returned his spirit had left him
Had gone to his Maker, the cowboy was dead.

We beat the drum slowly and played the fife lowly,
And bitterly wept as we bore him along.
For we all loved our comrade, so brave, young, and handsome,
We all loved our comrade although he'd done wrong.

Oh come along, boys, and listen to my tale,
I'll tell you all my troubles on the ol' Chisholm trail.
(chorus)
Come a-ti yi youpy youpy yea youpy yea
Come a-ti yi youpy youpy yea
On a ten dollar horse and a forty dollar saddle,
I was ridin', and a punchin' Texas cattle.
We left ol' Texas October twenty-third
Drivin' up the trail with the U-2 herd.
I'm up in the morning before daylight,
And before I sleep the moon shine bright.
It's bacon and beans most every day,
I'd just as soon be eating prairie hay.
I woke up one morning on the Chisholm trail,
With a rope in my hand and a cow by the tail,
Last night on guard, and the leader broke the ranks,
I hit my horse down the shoulders and spurred him in the flanks.
Oh, it's cloudy in the west, and a lookin' like rain,
And my darned old slicker's in the wagon again.
Oh the wind commenced to blow and the rain began to fall,
And it looked by grab that we was gonna lose 'em all.
I jumped in the saddle an' I grabbed a-hold the horn,
The best damned cowpuncher ever was born.
I was on my best horse, and a going on the run,
The quickest shootin' cowboy that ever pulled a gun.
No chaps, no slicker, and it's pouring down rain,
And I swear, by God, I'll never night herd again.
I herded and I hollered, and I done pretty well,
Till the boss said, "Boys, just let 'em go to Hell."
I'm going to the ranch to draw my money,
Goin' into town to see my honey.
I went to the boss to get my roll,
He figured me out nine dollars in the hole.
So I'll sell my outfit as fast as I can,
And I won't punch cows for no damn man.
So I sold old baldy and I hung up my saddle,
And I bid farewell to the longhorn cattle.

Oh come along, boys, and listen to my tale,
I'll tell you all my troubles on the ol' Chisholm trail.
(chorus)
Come a-ti yi youpy youpy yea youpy yea
Come a-ti yi youpy youpy yea
On a ten dollar horse and a forty dollar saddle,
I was ridin', and a punchin' Texas cattle.
We left ol' Texas October twenty-third
Drivin' up the trail with the U-2 herd.
I'm up in the morning before daylight,
And before I sleep the moon shine bright.
It's bacon and beans most every day,
I'd just as soon be eating prairie hay.
I woke up one morning on the Chisholm trail,
With a rope in my hand and a cow by the tail,
Last night on guard, and the leader broke the ranks,
I hit my horse down the shoulders and spurred him in the flanks.
Oh, it's cloudy in the west, and a lookin' like rain,
And my darned old slicker's in the wagon again.
Oh the wind commenced to blow and the rain began to fall,
And it looked by grab that we was gonna lose 'em all.
I jumped in the saddle an' I grabbed a-hold the horn,
The best damned cowpuncher ever was born.
I was on my best horse, and a going on the run,
The quickest shootin' cowboy that ever pulled a gun.
No chaps, no slicker, and it's pouring down rain,
And I swear, by God, I'll never night herd again.
I herded and I hollered, and I done pretty well,
Till the boss said, "Boys, just let 'em go to Hell."
I'm going to the ranch to draw my money,
Goin' into town to see my honey.
I went to the boss to get my roll,
He figured me out nine dollars in the hole.
So I'll sell my outfit as fast as I can,
And I won't punch cows for no damn man.
So I sold old baldy and I hung up my saddle,
And I bid farewell to the longhorn cattle.

Man only sees what he wants to see
I saw you loving me
No ties to unwind, no promises to bind
When the dawn set us free

One night of moonlight and roses
Was all that I saw in you
Man only sees what he wants to see
But the heart knows the truth
Oh, the heart knows the truth

Man only hears what he wants to hear
I heard me say goodbye
I didn't listen to what my heart whispered
I still wonder why

I told myself it didn't matter
That I'd forget about you
A man only hears what he wants to hear
But the heart knows the truth
Ooh, oh, the heart knows the truth
Ooh, the heart knows the truth

Man only sees what he wants to see
Now I see you in my dreams
Man only hears what he wants to hear
I hear you call my name

Moonlight like Mexican silver
Turns the red rose to blue
The night wind whispers you'll always be mine
But the heart knows the truth

Ooh, oh, the heart knows the truth
Ooh, the heart knows the truth

Oh, the heart knows the truth
Oh, the heart knows the truth

Oh, the heart knows the truth
Oh, the heart knows the truth

Jesse James was a man
And he killed many men
He robbed the Glendale train
And he took from the richer
And he gave that to the poorer
He'd a hand and a heart and a brain

Oh Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life
Three children they were so brave
But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
Has laid Jesse James in his grave


On Wednesday night
When the moon was shining bright
They robbed that Glendale train
And the folks from miles about (yeah they can)
They all said without a doubt
It was done by her Frankie and Jesse James (yes it was)

Oh Jessie had a wife, to mourn for his life
Three children they were so brave
But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
Has laid (poor) Jesse James in his grave



Well the people held their breath
When they heard about Jesse's death (yeah)
And they wondered how poor Jesse came to die (how did he die?)
It was one of his guys, called Little Robert Ford
And he shot Jessie James on the sly

Oh Jessie had a wife to mourn for his life
Three children they were so brave
But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
Has laid Jesse James in his grave
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave
He laid Jesse James in his grave

(Transcribed by ear; corrections requested and welcomed!)

Take it as it comes
Just an actor waiting for a new play
Take it as it comes

Ask me to dance, I will dance for you
Ask me to sing, and see what I do
If you feel sad, I'll make jokes for you
I'm a handyman, I'm still coming through

If you suffer from a broken heart
Take it as it comes
If your lover tears your world all apart
Take it as it comes

I've played a king and a down and and out fool
Some like it hot, some like it cool
Do what they want, but don't be their tool
Savor the throne, don't mind the stool

Carry on, carry on, carry on ...

If they go too far, that's the way things are
Though it may hurt some, take it as it comes

We're all skating on the thinnest of ice
Got to take it as it comes
In a world that is not so very nice
Got to take it as it comes

Any day now the curtain may fall
All the plays end, there's no curtain call
If you live sad, or if you walk tall
We're written on a wind that's a lot to haul

Carry on, carry on, carry on ...

If they go too far, that's the way things are
Though your mind gets numb, take it as it comes

We're all skating on the thinnest of ice
Got to take it as it comes
In a world that is not so very nice
Got to take it as it comes

Any day now the curtain may fall
All the plays end, there's no curtain call
If you live sad, or if you walk tall
We're written on a wind that's a lot to haul

Carry on, carry on, carry on ...

If they go too far, that's the way things are
If they break your thumbs, take it as it comes

1. Spanish is the lovin' tongue
Soft as springtime, light as spray
There was a girl I learned it from
Living down Sonora way
Now I don't look much like a lover
Yet I say her love words over
Late at night when I'm all alone
"Mi amor, mi corazon"

2. There were nights when I would ride
She would listen for my spurs
Fling that big door open wide
Raise those laughing eyes of hers
And how those hours would get to flyin'
Pretty soon, I'd hear her cryin'
"Please don't leave me all alone
Mi amor, mi corazon"

3. Then one night I had to fly
I got into a foolish gamblin' fight
I had a swift goodbye
In that black unlucky night
And traveling north, her words kept ringing
And every word I could hear her singing
"Please don't leave me all alone
Mi amor, mi corazon"

4. Well, I ain't never seen her since that night
I can't cross the line now
She was Mexican, and I was White
Like as not, it's better so
And yet I've always sort of missed her
Since that last wild night I kissed her
I left my heart, but I lost my own
"Mi amor, mi corazon"

I'm not through with loving you it's just that you're gone
Nothing I can say or do can undo what's done
You took my heart along when you went away
I gave all my love I'll get it back some day

In the river of time I'll forgive and forget
Sweet peace of mind will be just round the bend
I'll stay afloat on the tears that I've cried
And let them memories all go down the river of time

I'll never be over you just over the pain
Moments of hope will shine through the hours of rain
I'll count 'em every one till I start to lose track
I'll make it through this night and get the morning back

In the river of time...
Down the river of time down the river of time

RENEGADE
Styx/Michael Martin Murphey

Oh mama I'm in fear for my life
From the long arm of the law
Lawman has put an end to my running
And I'm so far from my home
Oh mama I can hear you a crying
You're so scared and all alone
Hangman is coming down from the gallows
And I don't have very long

This jig is up the news is out
They've finally found me
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty
Never more to go astray
This will be the end today of the wanted man

Oh mama I've been years on the lamb
And had a high price on my head
Lawman said get him dead or alive
Now it's for sure he'll see me dead
Dear mama I can hear you a crying
You're so scared and all alone
Hangman is coming down from the gallows
And I don't have very long

This jig is up the news is out
They've finally found me
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty
Never more to go astray
The judge will have revenge today
On the wanted man

From this valley they say you are going
I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
They say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened in the pathway a while

Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true

I've been faking a long time, my darling
Although the sweet words you never would say
Now, alas, all my found hopes have vanished
They say you're going away

Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
but remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true

From this valley they say you are going
I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
They say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened in the pathway a while

Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true

I've been faking a long time, my darling
Although the sweet words you never would say
Now, alas, all my found hopes have vanished
They say you're going away

Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
but remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true

Stars are fallin' and the moon is shinin' bright
I can feel the teardrop in my eye
One last kiss my darlin', remember me kind
And always bear in mind someday we may meet again

Goodbye my love, goodbye, be glad we had the try
I'm never, never, never, never, never, never, never givin' up on love
I'm never, never, never, never givin' up on love

Somewhere out in this big wide world someone is waitin'
So I'm never, never, never, never givin' up on love
No, I'm never, never, never, never givin' up on love

Someday my darlin' will come to me and say
"I will love you darlin' till I die"
We will come together and we'll know right away
Love will ring and ring and ring like bells in the sky

Goodbye my love, goodbye, be glad we had the try
I'm never, never, never, never, never, never, never givin' up on love
I'm never, never, never, never givin' up on love

Somewhere out in this big wide world someone is waitin'
So I'm never, never, never, never givin' up on love
No, I'm never, never, never, never givin' up on love
Never, never, never, never givin' up on love