Red Headed Stranger

The red-headed stranger from Blue Rock, Montana Rode into town one day And under his knees was a ragin' black stallion And walkin' behind was a bay The red-headed stranger had eyes like the thunder And his lips, they were sad and tight His little lost love lay asleep on the hillside And his heart was heavy as night Don't cross him, don't boss him He's wild in his sorrow He's ridin' and hidin' his pain Don't fight him, don't spite him Just wait 'til tomorrow Maybe he'll ride on again A yellow-haired lady leaned out of her window And watched as he passed her way She drew back in fear at the sight of the stallion But cast greedy eyes on the bay But how could she know that this dancin' bay pony Meant more to him than life? For this was the horse that his little lost darlin' Had ridden when she was his wife Don't cross him, don't boss him He's wild in his sorrow He's ridin' and hidin' his pain Don't fight him, don't spite him Just wait 'til tomorrow Maybe he'll ride on again The yellow-haired lady came down to the tavern And looked up the stranger there He bought her a drink, and he gave her some money He just didn't seem to care She followed him out as he saddled his stallion And laughed as she grabbed at the bay He shot her so quick, they had no time to warn her She never heard anyone say Don't cross him, don't boss him He's wild in his sorrow He's ridin' and hidin' his pain Don't fight him, don't spite him Just wait 'til tomorrow Maybe he'll ride on again The yellow-haired lady was buried at sunset The stranger went free, of course For you can't hang a man for killin' a woman Who's tryin' to steal your horse This is the tale of the red-headed stranger And if he should pass your way Stay out of the path of the ragin' black stallion And don't lay a hand on the bay Don't cross him, don't boss him He's wild in his sorrow He's ridin' and hidin' his pain Don't fight him, don't spite him Just wait 'til tomorrow Maybe he'll ride on again