Two partners went in search of gold as friendly as could be

One was young and one was old and the gay young fool was me

Since neither one could write his name we swore upon our souls

To share the wealth and then shook hands the hands that dug for gold (oh partners)



The summer days were gone at last and winter nights grew cold

The snow had trapped us in the pass when we finally found the gold

We took our fortune to the shack to wait the winter through

But the food ran low so I killed my friend what else was there to do (oh partners)



I threw his body just outside into the bitter cold

Somehow I had to stay alive I now had all the gold

But the howling wind just seemed to say you have killed a man

And you'll never get to spend the gold with blood upon your hands (oh partners)



The cabin's covered now with snow and shelves of food are bare

Satan's waitin' for me now and I'm too cold to care

Is that the devil at the door comin' for my soul

Or is it just the old man a looking for his gold (oh partners)