Ballad Of A Runaway Horse

Say a prayer for the cowgirl, her horse ran away
 She'll walk 'til she finds him, her darlin', her stray
 But the river's in flood and the roads are awash
 And the bridges break up in the panic of loss
 And there's nothin' to follow nowhere to go
 He's gone like the summer, gone like the snow
 And the crickets are breaking her heart with their song
 As the day caves in, and the night is all wrong
 Did she dream, was it he who went galloping past
 And bent down the fern, broke open the grass
 And printed the mud with the well-hammered shoe
 That she nailed to his speed in the dreams of her youth
 And although he goes grazin' a minute away
 She tracks him all night, she tracks him all day
 And she's blind to his presence except to compare
 Her injury here with his punishment there
 Then at home on a branch on a high stream
 A songbird sings out so suddenly
 And the sun is warm and the soft winds ride
 On a willow tree by the riverside
 Ah, the world is sweet, and the world is wide
 And he's there where the light and the darkness divide
 And the steam's comin' off him, he's huge and he's shy
 And he steps on the moon when he paws at the sky
 And he comes to her hand, but he's not really tame
 He longs to be lost, she longs for the same
 And he'll bolt and he'll plunge through the first open pass
 To roll and to feed in the sweet mountain grass
 Or he'll make a break for the high plateau
 Where there's nothing above and nothing below
 It's time for their burden, the whip and the spur
 Will she ride with him or will he ride with her?
 So she binds herself to her galloping steed
 And he binds himself to the woman in need
 And there is no space, just left and right
 And there is no time, but there is day and night
 Then she leans on his neck and whispers low
 Whither thou goest, I will go
 And they turn as one the head for the plain
 No need for the whip, oh no need for the rein
 Now the clasp of this union who fastens it tight
 Who snaps it asunder the very next night
 Some say it's him, some say it's her
 Some say love's like smoke beyond all repair
 So my darlin', my darlin', just let it go by
 That old silhouette on the great western sky
 And I'll pick out a tune, and they'll move right along
 And they're gone like smoke, and they're gone like this song
 Say a prayer for the cowgirl