A pale little boy lay there helpless
On the prairie at the close of the day.
"I've been shot in the breast, sir, please help me"
Weak and weary these words he did say.

"My mother's an angel in Heaven
My daddy won't allow me to stay
So please, sir, I beg you to help me
I'm an orphan that's cast by the way."

Chorus:
There's a silvery moon on the old corral
There's a pony that's restless and worn
There's a little brown saddle that's empty
And a little grey shirt that is torn.

There's an outcast that longs for a mother
To help him life's battles to fight
Tho' there's no one to miss little Joe's tender kiss
But his pony is lonesome tonight.

We worked thro the night until dawning
We tried but 'twas only in vain
He smiled as his eyes closed in slumber
To be free from all sorrow and pain.

He died as the day slowly ended
With the angels he made his last flight
There was no one to miss little Joe's tender kiss
But his pony is lonely tonight.

Chorus:
There's a silvery moon on the old corral
There's a pony that's restless and worn
There's a little brown saddle that's empty
And a little grey shirt that is torn.

There's a silver moon on the old corral
But a wreath on the old bunkhouse door
There's a little brown saddle that's empty
That will never be used anymore.

He has joined the great foreman up yonder
Where the ranges are care-free and bright
There's a new star a twinkling in heaven
But a pony that's lonely tonight.

Chorus:
There's a silvery moon on the old corral
There's a pony that's restless and worn
There's a little brown saddle that's empty
And a little grey shirt that is torn...