Marty Robbins

[fox69]

"Prairie Fire"

"Prairie Fire"



While drivin' a herd of cattle out in old Nebraska way
Headin' east at Broken Bow one hot September day
Tryin' to get to Omaha we hoped to find a buyer
We never counted in the odds of a western prairie fire

A hot south wind was blowin' and the air was gettin' dry
Somethin' far away was spellin' trouble in the sky
Comin' closer was a sound that topped the devil's choir
Then we knew we had to race a raging prairie fire

When all at once a flame is seen a lickin' at the sky
And every heart is quicker and there's fear in every eye
We'd just one chance to get away for there's no place to hide
Gotta reach the river Platte one inch deep and one mile wide

The herd is gettin' tired but we've got no time to rest
I try to clear the red dust that is gatherin' in my chest
From ridin' tail on a thousand head with the weather gettin' dry
The black cloud in the west is warning ride ride ride

The roarin' heat is closer ashes fallin' by our side
And every breeze is burnin' singin' with its warnin' cry
We've got to reach the river but it's still ten miles or more
And close behind us we can hear that wind infernal roar

But fate had other plans for we lost that fatal race
We lost for neither man nor beast could long keep up the pace
The mighty Platte subdued its rage but none were there to rest
We did our best to get away but only I am left

Now on the blackened prairie far as the eye can see
The grim remains are there to show that God rules you and me
Just one he left to tell the tale just one was his desire
We lost our herd and thirty men to a raging prairie fire

 

[fox69]

"Pray For Me Mother Of Mine"

"Pray For Me Mother Of Mine"



I've gained wealth and fame though I'm not satisfied
Oh, pray for me, Mother of mine
My footsteps have strayed from the straight narrow way
Oh, pray for me, Mother of mine

As you hear me singing I know you'll be blue
But I wrote this song, Mom, especially for you
I know I don't write you as much as I should
But pray for me, Mother of mine

Remember the times when you'd take me to church
When I was a small, little boy
How well I remember the songs I would sing
It fills your dear heart full of joy

I'm weary and tired, Mom, I want you to know
That I need your prayers as I did long ago
So kneel down and pray that I might find the way
Oh, pray for me, Mother of mine

 

[fox69]

"Pretty Words"

"Pretty Words"



Too late to be sorry, too late to forget
I don't know what's happened to me
I know that I'm lonely, I know that I'm left
Pretty words make a fool out of me

Pretty words, pretty words you spoke such pretty words
You spoke pretty words warm and sweet
Now you've gone, here am I, wanna smile but I cry
Pretty words made a fool out of me

Love that's strong for a day like a flower fades away
Then I think of the things that could be
I don't want to forget I'm not sorry I left
Pretty words make a fool out of me

Pretty words, pretty words, how I love those pretty words
Pretty words were like Heaven to me
It's as plain as can be, it's so easy to see
Pretty words made a fool out of me

 

[fox69]

"Pride And The Badge"

"Pride And The Badge"



All night long I tried to sleep but sleep refused to come
Cause today I knew I'd either have to fight or run
Knowin' if I choose to run my mind would never rest
Cause with so much pride I wear this badge upon my vest

Folks are filled with fear because there's three bad guns in town
Sheriff Olsen made the wrong move and they shot him down
One they called Dakota Jack and one El Paso Red
The other just turned twenty and he's called the Killer Kid

Good advice I get and that's to leave and run away
But my pride and badge I wear won't let me live this way
And if I stay the three have bragged they'll add me to their list
But I have a different aim and I don't aim to miss

From the doorway where I stand I see the outlaws three
Worried none because they know the town's not helpin' me
From a hundred yards away I try a lucky shot
Luck is with me and Dakota Jack dies on the spot

Well a kid runs through the barroom door and Red goes up the stairs
The Kid is ragin' mad, he's breakin' bottles, kickin' chairs
And from a roof El Paso Red has vowed to pay me back
As he views the lifeless body of Dakota Jack

I can see him as he jumps from one roof to the next
Searchin' for me but he has no idea where I'm at
But I watch his every move I'm ready when he leaps
As I shoot him in mid air he crashes to the street

Now there's one against just one I've evened up the score
Down the street I hear a yell come through the barroom door
The Kid has screamed, there's no way I can live unless I run
Said there ain't no lawdog man enough to take his gun

Through the barroom door he walks and steps out on the street
I can't match his draw, he's much too fast for me to beat
And as I walk toward him we both grab a forty-five
Maybe I will die today and he will stay alive

Like a hammer somethin' hits me spinnin' me around
As I fall I shoot him twice before he hits the ground
His bullet missed me , still I feel a burnin' in my chest
His bullet hits the badge I wear with pride upon my vest

As the people view the bodies of the lifeless three
From their looks I know exactly what they think of me
To them I'm just a killer and they could not care less
'Bout my pride or 'bout the badge I wear upon my vest

 

[fox69]

"Private Wilson White"

"Private Wilson White"



Private Wilson White, America is proud tonight
Proud to claim you for their hero, Private White

On a battlefield one day in a land so far away
Mid the rattle of machine guns in the dawn's first golden light
Twenty men lay close to death, nineteen of them held their breath
While one volunteered to save them, volunteered to give his life

Private Wilson White, America is proud tonight
Proud to claim you for their hero, Private White

Nineteen lives he meant to save, not one backward glance he gave
As he yelled, for God and country, through an open field he ran
But the enemy had seen and they understood his scheme
And the fire from their machine guns knocked the rifle from his hands

Private Wilson White, America is proud tonight
Proud to claim you for their hero, Private White

Seven bullets found their mark, seven bullets near the heart
And the force of seven bullets knocked the soldier to the ground
But his promise he must keep, and he staggered to his feet
Ran toward the four machine guns that pinned the soldiers down

Private Wilson White, America is proud tonight
Proud to claim you for their hero, Private White

Bullets flyin' everywhere, smoke and gunfire filled the air
Onward ran the wounded soldier to keep the vow he made
Nearly dead, but deep within, was the strength to pull the pin
As he yelled, I died for freedom, he threw the hand grenade

Private Wilson White, America is proud tonight
Proud to claim you for their hero, Private White

 

[fox69]

"Progressive Love"

"Progressive Love"



Little by little, step by step
Slowly but surely we fell in love
How did it happen, it's easy to see
We didn't rush things, we loved progressively

First came a smile and then we held hands
Much later came the kiss
If you'll just take your time
If you search then you'll find
Progressive love won't miss

If you'll just take your time
If you search then you'll find
Progressive love can't miss

 

[fox69]

"Queen Of The Big Rodeo"

"Queen Of The Big Rodeo"



Gather 'round cowboys I'll tell you a tale
A story that's hard to be told
Of a trick ridin' cowgril we loved and we called
The queen of the big rodeo

Wherever she went she was always acclaimed
As the greatest of trick ridin' girls
Perfection and beauty were her's all alone
She was stricly the best in the world

Cowboys and cowgirls remarked of her charm
And a smile that brightened the world
Admired and chosen by many a man
As the best of the trick ridin' girls

One night in Houston the crowd was so big
There was forty-five thousand or more
She had just about finished her act for the night
One more trick the crowd waited for

A dangerous trick at the horse's full speed
A trick that had never been tried
Cowboys and cowgirls both knew if she failed
If she fell she could easily die

The ride was perfection and almost complete
Suddenly somethin' went wrong
The sinch gave away and she lost control
And at full speed she fell to the ground

Not one muscle moved as she lay where she fell
She's unconscious, one bronc buster said
But the doctor removed any doubt from our minds
When he said, the young cowgirl was dead

Not one livin' soul in the crowd made a move
They all knew that somethin' was wrong
As they took her away from the place where she lay
They knew the young cowgirl was gone

Cowboys just stood there with hats in their hands
Their heads were bowed ever so low
Not one eye was dry as we whispered, goodbye
To the queen of the big rodeo

 

[fox69]

"Red River Valley"

"Red River Valley"



From this valley they say you are leaving
We shall miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For you take with you all of the sunshine
That has brightened our pathway a while

Then come sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy that's loved you so true

For a long time, my darlin', I've waited
For the sweet words you never would say
Now, alas, must my fond hopes all vanish,
For they say that you're going away

Then come sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy that's loved you so true

Do you think of the valley you're leaving,
Oh how lonely and drear it will be,
Do you think of he kind hearts you're breaking,
And the pain you are causing to me.

Come and sit by my side if you love me,
Do not hasten to bid me adieu,
Just remember the Red River Valley,
And the cowboy who loved you so true

 

[fox69]

"Refer Him To Me"

"Refer Him To Me"



If he wants to know her lips and touch of her fingertips
I touched them before refer him to me
The loveliness of her face to warm her in his embrace
I held her before refer him to me
The dreams that were ours to share when she was here
I'm helpless beyond compare without her near
Though she no longer wants my kiss if he'll bring her happiness
I ask nothing more refer him to me
Though she no longer wants...

 

[fox69]

"Respectfully Miss Brooks"

"Respectfully Miss Brooks"



I got a letter from my baby
Came in the mail yesterday
She had an awful lot on her mind
She had an awful lot to say
Well, she treated me like an old, old friend
Just like a used to be
Well, I know by heart the words she wrote to me

Oh yeah, well, well

She said, "Dear Mister Johnson
Please sent back the letter that
I wrote you long time ago
We were kids, thought we were in love."
Oh yeah, well
She said, "Dear Mister Johnson
Please send back a picture that we took."
And it was signed respectfully, Miss Brooks

Oh yeah, well, well

Well I cried and I cried and I cried some more
I fell right down and I cried on the floor
I was hurtin' way down deep inside
Where it don't show, don't show
Well, I never felt so bad in my whole life
Thought Miss Brooks was gonna be my wife
But I done found out how wrong a man in love can be
Oh yeah

Well, I cried yesterday and all last night
Nothin' ever gonna be alright
Oh, well I called Miss Brooks on the phone
And here's what I said well, I cried, I said now
Please-se-se-se don't-o-o-on't make-a-a-ake me send you
The letters that you wrote me
Wrote me long time ago-o-o
Please-se-se-se don't-o-o-on't make-a-a-ake me
Send you back the pictures that we took
Cause I still love you Miss Brooks

Well I cried and I cried and I cried some more
Fell right down and I cried on the floor
I was hurtin' way down deep inside
Where it don't show, oh, well, well
Well, I never felt so bad in my whole life
I thought Miss Brooks was gonna be my wife
But I done found out how wrong a man in love can be