"Keep Runnin', Coyboy"

“Keep Runnin’, Cowboy”

(The Ballad of Marshal Beau)

for Beau

Verse:
Well- way, way, back in the wild, old west
Rode a young man with a badge on his chest-
A gun slingin’ marshal- Beau Harris his name.
And only his horse, Jessie, matched him in fame.

Verse
One summer night when the sun went down,
Cowboy Red came shootin’ up the town.
Beau heard all the noise, and he grabbed up his guns.
In a minute, Cowboy Red was on the run.

Chorus
You can keep runnin’, cowboy, but you can’t hide.
Marshal Beau and Jessie have just started to ride.
They’re faster than a bullet, and they’re tougher than nails,
And Marshal Beau won’t rest ‘til he sees you in jail.

Verse
Well Cowboy Red’s poor old horse gave out.
So the cowboy had to look about
For a place in a tree where he could climb and hide
To get a shot at Beau as he rode by.

Verse
Beau and Jessie were close to the spot
Where Cowboy Red was waitin’ for the shot.
He was out on a limb, and the branch made a sound.
The old varmint fired and then he hit the ground.

Bridge
(spoken)....
Did the heroes take the bait?
Did Beau and Jessie meet their Fate?
Is this the day that villains rule the day?
Well, rest assured it’s not like that!
I swear on Marshall Beau’s straw hat.
Red’s bullet missed and ricocheted away!

Verse
You’ll probably have a laugh to know
That Marshall Beau roped Red with his lasso,
And then he strung Red up for all to see-
'Cause Beau’s the bravest Marshal in history!

Chorus
You can keep runnin’, cowboy, but you can’t hide.
Marshal Beau and Jessie have just started to ride.
They’re faster than a bullet, and they’re tougher than nails,
And Marshal Beau won’t rest ‘til he sees you in jail.

(Spraggins/Brown- March '09)