Maybe at times life on the range was as peaceful and poetic As those lyrics to Home On The Range imply There were the calm quiet nights by the fireplace or by the campfire There was the smell of strong coffee and the night howl of the timber wolf And always that Saturday trip to town And to the night-herder the herd quietly millin' around But a cowpoke knew that even under the night shades of heaven That any minute all hell could break loose And start a nightmare of tons of chargin' crazed cattle Some men may have had no fear of a six gun or a wild mustang But just one word could chill the most calloused man and that word was stampede
There's just one word I don't want to hear When I heard it called it cost a friend quite dear I can hear it echo as though it were now When I was a chasin' of the long horned cow
Stampede they're comin' up to draw Stampede three thousand herd or more Here they come a smokin' fire boys you better earn your hire Stampede and hell to score
Now Frank he was my partner he rode point upon my heart We drank and fought and partnered back to back at troubles start We heard the call on evening in the thunder and the black When the lightnin' hit the leaders and the devil led the pack
Stampede they're comin' up to draw...
Our horses they were handy for we had just rode in We went from drinkin' coffee to thinkin' of our sins There wasn't time for prayin' there was hardly time to cuss It was a smokin' roarin' rattle and the leaders were on us
Stampede they're comin' up to draw...
Old Frank's foot it missed the stirrup and his hand it missed the horn And as the cattle crossed him from his body life was torn I was mounted and a ridin' when I heard his final yell Said hey Johnny head the wild bunch and do the ladies well
Stampede they're comin' up to draw...
No I ain't got no partner cause old Frank's done dead and gone But just so he'd be remembered Peter put him in this song Some admire headstones but I think he'd like this best He weren't fancy in his livin' so he ain't fancy in his rest
