The Unwelcome Guest

To the rich man's bright lodges
 I ride in this wind
 On my good horse, I call you
 My shiny black Bess
 To the playhouse of fortune
 To take the bright silver
 And gold you have taken
 From somebody else
 And as we go riding
 In the damp foggy midnight
 You snort, my good pony
 And you give me your best
 For you know and I know
 Good horse 'mongst the rich ones
 How oftimes we go there
 An unwelcome guest
 I never took food
 From the widows and orphans
 And never a hardworking man I oppressed
 So take your pace easy
 For home soon like lightning
 We soon will be riding
 My shiny black Bess
 No fat rich man's pony
 Can ever overtake you
 And there's not a rider
 From the east to the west
 Could hold you a light
 In this dark mist and midnight
 When the potbellied thieves
 Chase the unwelcome guest
 I don't know, good horse
 As we trot in this dark here
 That robbing the rich
 Is for worse or for best
 They take it by stealing
 And lying and gambling
 And I take it my way
 My shiny Black Bess
 I treat horses good
 And I'm friendly to strangers
 I ride and your running
 Makes my guns talk the best
 And the rangers and deputies
 Are hired by the rich man
 To catch me and hang me
 My shining black Bess
 Yes, they'll catch me napping one day
 And they'll kill me
 And then I'll be gone
 But that won't be my end
 For my guns and my saddle
 Will always be filled
 By unwelcome travelers
 And other brave men
 And they'll take the money
 And spread it out equal
 Just like the Bible
 And the prophets suggest
 But men that go riding
 To help these poor workers
 The rich will cut down
 Like an unwelcome guest