He was barely a man, in his grandfather's coat

Sewn into the lining a ten shilling note

Goodbye to the family, farwell to the shore

If I taste good fortune, you'll see me no more



Then a boat on the ocean tossed like a cork

And then one fine morning they sighted New York

And he stood on the gangplank he breathed in the air

Hello Land of Plenty I've come for my share



And he did like the ladies and rise and the fall

Of their ankles and dresses down on the dancehall

Rolling the dice, and spinning the wheels

But he took most delight in the slip, jigs, and reels



Well now so same say a pistol and some say a knife

But all are agreed there was somebody's wife

A dreadful commotion, a terrible fight

he left a man dead and ran into the night



On a train to St. Louis, just one jump ahead

He slept one eye open, a six gun in bed

he dreamed of the green hills and valleys of home

Crossing the plains where the buffalo roam



And he did like the ladies and rise and the fall

Of their ankles and dresses down on the dancehall

Rolling the dice, and spinning the wheels

But he took most delight in the slip, jigs, and reels



Well a bad reputations a hard thing to bear

Others pour scorn, children they stare


So he took consolation in flash company

Your life ain't so bad with a girl on each knee



And they call him the Kid and by twenty one

All that he knew was the power of the gun

And by twenty three he shot five men down

Who got in his way as he rambled around



And he did like the ladies and rise and the fall

Of their ankles and dresses down on the dancehall

Rolling the dice, and spinning the wheels

But he took most delight in the slip, jigs, and reels



There's bones in the desert and buzzards that fly

in highest of circles just wishing he'd die

But in matters of cruelty it must be said

The landlord will pick your bones before your dead.



It was wild Mesqualeros I heard someone say

in the deadliest ambush near old Santa Fe

And the young buck was taken, wrapped up in a coat

And inside the lining a ten shilling note



And he did like the ladies and rise and the fall

Of their ankles and dresses down on the dancehall

Rolling the dice, and spinning the wheels

But he took most delight in the slip, jigs, and reels



Rolling the dice, and spinning the wheels

But he took most delight in the slip, jigs, and reels