A Cowgirl's Lament (feat. Chris Enss)

I was a sweet, young cowgirl Who never loved before Thought I’d ride forever Behind his rodeo star It’s a hard ride back to Belle Fourche Northern prairie’s thick with snow Lost the road out of Amidon Still, I’ll make it through to Buffalo Soon, another silent sunset It feels too cold to cry Some sad beauty I leave alone here To die by the dark of night So, I’ll strike myself a warming fire Lay my old saddle down Sip on a hot cup a coffee Hear the coyotes’ hungry Howls For now, I’ve got some time Roll one last cigarette Offer up to you, my friends A cowgirl’s, a cowgirl’s lament Rode the rodeo with my sister Starting 1943 We could trick our ropes to twirl around Into things that no one had ever seen Drove our rusty, Chevy pickup Towing my horse Babe behind Traveled from one dusty town to another Showin’ them crowds a good ole time We met him one night in Deadwood He was just about half drunk Tellin’ tales ‘round the fire to all them rodeo clowns ‘Bout riding the meanest, bucking broncs Well now, me and my sister Helped him back to his truck He kissed me once on the lips and said Come ride with me, Honey, you’ll bring me good luck That summer we traveled the circuit From Ft. Worth on up to Montana Though many cowgirls followed him all around Gave only me his dirty, red bandanna And I was a sweet, young cowgirl Who never loved before Thought those days would last forever Riding behind his rodeo star Then one, hot afternoon in Denver Mean Pete threw him right outta the chute But before Ole Pete’s hooves could crush him I waved off that wild, ornery brute Never did he figure That I saved his life that day Picked himself up off the ground and hollered Whew there, boys, a helluva ride, I’d say Well, no more times did he kiss me No words about forever We were ridin’ an’ ropin’ side by side But not ever once together Soon, I gave up the roping Saw that man as a heartbreak kid For him, t’was the rodeo’s glamour For me, it was just something that we did One last night I’ll sleep on the cold ground With my head upon my hands I’ll dream of my rope tricks and cheers from the crowds As we crisscrossed the land Come dawn, I’ll ride on to Belle Fourche And the ranch where I was raised From the front porch my husband will greet me And I’ll forget my old, rodeo flame There we’ll build a warming fire Sit together, in a quiet hour Sip hot coffee And hear the coyotes’ distant howls While we rest, I’ll have some time As the light of day’s been spent Let my memories of lost love fade To a cowgirl’s, my cowgirl’s lament I was a sweet, young cowgirl Who never loved before Thought I’d ride forever Behind his rodeo star