Johnny Cash
"Stampede" lyrics

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 chasing
Of the long horned cow

Stampede
They're coming up to draw
Stampede
Three thousand herd or more
Here they come a smoking 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 lightning hit the leaders
And the devil led the pack

Stampede
They're coming up to draw
Stampede
Three thousand herd or more
Here they come a smoking fire
Boys, you better earn your hire
Stampede
And hell to score

Our horses they were handy
For we had just rode in
We went from drinking coffee
To thinking of our sins
There wasn't time for praying
There was hardly time to cuss
It was a smoking roaring rattle
And the leaders were on us

Stampede
They're coming up to draw
Stampede
Three thousand herd or more
Here they come a smoking fire
Boys, you better earn your hire
Stampede
And hell to score

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 riding
When I heard his final yell
Said, "Hey, Johnny, head the wild bunch
And do the ladies well"

Stampede
They're coming up to draw
Stampede
Three thousand herd or more
Here they come a smoking fire
Boys, you better earn your hire
Stampede
And hell to score

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 living
So he ain't fancy in his rest

Stampede
They're coming up to draw
Stampede
Two thousand herd or more
Here they come a smoking fire
Boys, you better earn your hire
Stampede
And hell to score