stampede

we made camp along red river

watched the cattle as they bedded down

back at the wagons

right after supper

we spread our bedrolls on the ground

and me and willie

we took the night guard

and the sage never smelled so sweet

the prairie moon

was blazin' silver

no chance tonight for a stampede

way over yonder

off in the distance

towards the mountains there in the west

did i see lightnin'

did i hear thunder

my mind is weary

i could use some rest

then all at once

the wind shifts directions

the clouds roll in behind the tumbleweeds

these longhorn cattle

are gettin' restless

god help us all

if they stampede

smell the rain

hear the thunder

the midnight sky

turns black as death

the lightnin' crashes

smell the sulphur

it's rank and strong

it's satan's breath

the cattle rise up

and go to runnin'

i spur my pony on and take the lead

and across the herd

i can hear willie yellin'

hey stampede!

dust clouds rise

as the rain falls

they mix together

turn the air to mud

i feel the longhorns brush against me

and i can feel the demons racin' through my blood

then all at once

my pony stumbles

we hit the ground

i rise up to my knees

in a flash of light

i can see the cattle comin'

lord i know i'm gonna die in this stampede

then i awake

and i look around me

i'm in my bedroll and i'm layin' on the ground

over there's the wagon

and there's the campfire

i was only dreamin'

but what's that sound?

then i feel the earth tremble underneath me

as the midnight sky begins to bleed

and from the blackness i can hear willie yellin'

hey stampede