Ridin' against the wind in east New Mexico

His skin is dry and worn as the Texas plains

He's headed where the air is thinand the cold blue northers blow

Up throw the raton pass but he'll have to beat the early snow.



The winter of '64 was a great many years ago

When a young man went away for the rebel cause

And he was branded by the war and the only life he'd know

Was lookin' over his shoulder saddle bound and layin' low.



Now there's a man on the Goodnight-Loving

Like too many other men out on the trail

Who found the hard way when the pushing comes to shoving

He'd go six feet under before he'd go to jail.



Now there's a place just north of here where they say the outlaws go

Where a man can leave his name and past behind

And every now and then you'll hear he's gone the way of the buffalo

And that he finally made the pass but he didn't beat the early snow.



Now there's a man on the Goodnight-Loving

Like too many other men out on the trail

Who found the hard way when the pushing comes to shoving

He'd go six feet under before he'd go to jail.



He'd go six feet under before he'd go to jail...