The Instrumental only version of thsi song can be heard at:
https://soundcloud.com/user-824634944/black-horse
I found a black
horse in the desert
not yet malnourished
skin and bone
miles from anywhere
that was civilized
for reasons left unknown
With an empty saddle
strapped across his back
and he was bent
beneath the weight
of his saddlebags
that dragged him down
and a thirst he could not slate.
His reins were
tangled in saguarros
that poor horse
could not break free
his brown eyes they
begged for mercy
hoping his savior
would be me
but when I looked
into his saddlebags
they were filled
with bricks of gold
more money then
I’d ever hope to earn
and it made my
blood run cold....
Cause I’d passed a
cowboy 40 miles back
lying face down in the dirt
with his body full of bullet holes
and his face shot up the worst
it was the crack of dawn
when I came upon
his most unfortunate soul
and there wasn’t much
that I could do
so I dug him a grave hole
Somebody shot that
poor man off his horse
in the middle of the night
and this must have been
the horse he rode
that took off in fright and flight
It’s really hard to
find a coal black horse
in the dark when
there’s no moon
but I knew they
would be tracking him
and they’d be
coming for him soon
So I gave that horse some water
I fed him lots of desert grass
and he thanked me with a nuzzle
for his drink and added fat
Then I took four bricks
of that cursed gold
as I loosened his reins held fast
knowing I must send him packing
so I slapped him on the ass.
He took off in a heated run
disappearing in the desert’s dust
and I laid my saddle blanket down
behind my horses butt.
I roped it tight to my walking stick
and then anchored it to my saddle
knowing it would erase all of my tracks
with no trace as I skedaddled.
But I never heard any stories told
about that black horse and the gold
one would think that it’s recovery
would be a tale that never grows old
but no man can find a black horse
by searching in a moonless desert
he’s just a shadow they will never see
and all their efforts will grow desperate
Perhaps he’s just
a tumbled pile of bones
who broke his leg
in some dry gulch
while the desert
buried those saddlebags
underneath a sandy bulge.
But I’m a rich man
with my bricks of gold
they’ll support me
till I grow old
But I wish I’d taken
that whole damned load
which I’m regretting
truth be told
cause I’d found
a mother lode.
but I’m still breathing
I suppose.
sometimes that’s
just the way it goes
sometimes that's
just the way it goes.....
Incredible music Composed &
Played by Espantajos-©-2022
Narration & Lyrics Written & Spoken
by Matthew F. Blowers III--©-2022
at: Art~Whimsically Yours Studio
with photo credit to unsplash.com
