American Ballads and Songs

Complete Text & Lyrics - online book

Home Main Menu Singing & Playing Order & Order Info Support Search Voucher Codes



Share page  Visit Us On FB

Previous Contents Next
186 AMERICAN BALLADS AND SONGS
I gave up my trade selling Ayers' Patent Pills To go and hunt gold in the dreary Black Hills.
Stay away, I say, stay away if you can Far from that city they call Cheyenne, Where the blue waters roll and Comanche Bill Will take off your scalp, boys, in those dreary Black Hills.
Now, friends, if you'll listen to a story untold Don't go to the Black Hills a-digging for gold; For the railroad speculators their pockets will fill, While taking you a round trip to the dreary Black Hills.
I went to the Black Hills, no gold could I find. I thought of the free land I'd left far behind; Through rain, snow, and hail, boys, froze up to the gills, They called me the orphan of the dreary Black Hills.
The round house at Cheyenne is filled every night
With loafers and beggars of every kind of sight;
On their backs there's no clothes, boys, in their pockets
no bills. And they'll take off your scalp in those dreary Black
Hills.
88
JOE BOWERS
My name it is Joe Bowers, I've got a brother Ike;