Blackthorn Slip Jigs And Reels
He was barely a man, in his grandfather's coat
Sewn into the lining a ten shilling note
Goodbye to the family, farwell to the shore
If I taste good fortune, you'll see me no more
Then a boat on the ocean tossed like a cork
And then one fine morning they sighted New York
And he stood on the gangplank he breathed in the air
Hello Land of Plenty I've come for my share
And he did like the ladies and rise and the fall
Of their ankles and dresses down on the dancehall
Rolling the dice, and spinning the wheels
But he took most delight in the slip, jigs, and reels
Well now so same say a pistol and some say a knife
But all are agreed there was somebody's wife
A dreadful commotion, a terrible fight
he left a man dead and ran into the night
On a train to St. Louis, just one jump ahead
He slept one eye open, a six gun in bed
he dreamed of the green hills and valleys of home
Crossing the plains where the buffalo roam
And he did like the ladies and rise and the fall
Of their ankles and dresses down on the dancehall
Rolling the dice, and spinning the wheels
But he took most delight in the slip, jigs, and reels
Well a bad reputations a hard thing to bear
Others pour scorn, children they stare
So he took consolation in flash company
Your life ain't so bad with a girl on each knee
And they call him the Kid and by twenty one
All that he knew was the power of the gun
And by twenty three he shot five men down
Who got in his way as he rambled around
And he did like the ladies and rise and the fall
Of their ankles and dresses down on the dancehall
Rolling the dice, and spinning the wheels
But he took most delight in the slip, jigs, and reels
There's bones in the desert and buzzards that fly
in highest of circles just wishing he'd die
But in matters of cruelty it must be said
The landlord will pick your bones before your dead.
It was wild Mesqualeros I heard someone say
in the deadliest ambush near old Santa Fe
And the young buck was taken, wrapped up in a coat
And inside the lining a ten shilling note
And he did like the ladies and rise and the fall
Of their ankles and dresses down on the dancehall
Rolling the dice, and spinning the wheels
But he took most delight in the slip, jigs, and reels
Rolling the dice, and spinning the wheels
But he took most delight in the slip, jigs, and reels
