MY BLACK MARE

In the rebel days
On the southern line
They took me prisoner
In chains confined

They beat me, they banged me
They plied me with gin
Opened a door
And threw me in 

But a black-eyed servant girl
Taking pity on me
Bribed the guards with gold
And they set me free 

Saddle my pony, mount my mare
Can’t find no haven in this world nowhere 

With six guns blazing
And a bag of lead
We left nothing for the rangers
But a trail of the dead

We flew unto that country
Of the rural west
Separating there
Thinking it best 

The girl said she knew
We would meet again
As she left me in the care
Of some ragged partisans 

Saddle my pony, mount my mare
Can’t find no haven in this world nowhere  

And so among my comrades
At last I took my rest
How long I was there
I can’t safely guess

There was shelter in the hillside
So they’d heard it said
With comfort for the banished
And pale peace for the dead 

‘Twas then I saw these good men
Were shattered inside
So I gave them all my money
And I began to ride

Saddle my pony, mount my mare
Can’t find no haven in this world nowhere 

‘Twas down in Red River
At last I met my foe  
He fled not suspecting
I was alone

I spared many men
And kept mine in reserve
To kill the masters
That the lackeys serve 

As for the drunken suitors
Who filled my daddy’s hall
They begged for mercy
But I got them all 

Saddle my pony, mount my mare
Can’t find no haven in this world nowhere 

I woke up in a mountain village
My wounds were bound
Nurses spoke in eastern tongues
As they carried me down

To a town where church bells
Rang in the air
And the sound of children’s singing
Echoed through the squares 

The kindness of those women
I never shall forget
I vowed to return
And I hope to see them yet  

Saddle my pony, mount my mare
Can’t find no haven in this world nowhere  

Passing broken armies
By the cities of the dead
I spied a commotion
A mile or two ahead

I recognized my comrades
From the army of the north
Taking their revenge
With no mercy or remorse 

‘Twas then I knew my soul
Must be damned for good
So I pulled down on the reins
And headed for the woods  

Saddle my pony, mount my mare
Can’t find no haven in this world nowhere 

Slipping past the night watch
In the town of Tour de Bec
I seen a sleeping guard
I put my knife to his neck

I want the jewels I cried
He opened the door
There were ten thousand diamonds
Lying on floor 

The guard fell down dead
Of fear I guess
So I grabbed all I could
And lit out for the wilderness

Saddle my pony, mount my mare
Can’t find no haven in this world nowhere 

In May I reached the border
I crossed unopposed
I threw down my armor
Put on a workman’s clothes  

When the capital fell
I left the underground
To bring the black-eyed girl
The treasure I’d found 

And I know I shall find her
When the caged bird sings
Then we’ll leave behind this world
And the trouble that it brings 

Saddle my pony, mount my mare
Can’t find no haven in this world nowhere