Lyrics Red Headed Stranger Medley (Live at Harrah's Casino, Lake Tahoe, NV - April 1978) - Willie Nelson

And it was the time of the preacher
When the story began
And the choice of a lady
And the love of a man

And he loved her so dearly
And he went out of his mind
When she left him for someone
That she'd left behind

He cried like a baby
And he screamed like a panther in the middle of the night
And he saddled his pony
And he went for a ride

It was the time of the preacher
In the year of 01
Well, now the preachin' is over
And the lesson's begun

Last night I came home and I knocked on my door
And I called to my love as I oft had before
And I knocked and I knocked, but no answer there came
No kisses to greet me, no voice call my name

And I could not believe it was true, oh Lord
I could not believe it was true
And my eyes filled with tears, I must've aged in years
I could not believe it was true

Shock was so great, I am quiverin' yet
I'll try to forgive but I cannot forget
My heart breakin' loss is another man's gain
And her happiness, always, I hope will remain

And I could not believe it was true, oh Lord
I could not believe it was true
And my eyes filled with tears, I must've aged in years
I could not believe it was true

But he could not forgive her
Though he tried and tried, he tried
And the halls of his memories
Still echo her lies

And he cried like a baby
Screamed like a panther in the middle of the night
And then he saddled his pony
And he went for a ride

It was the time of the preacher
In the year of 01
Now the lesson is over
And the killing's begun

Well, he rode into Blue Rock
Dusty and tired
And he got him a room for the night

And he lay there in silence
Too much on his mind
Still hoping that he was not right

But he found them that evening at a tavern in town
In a quiet, little out of the way place
And they smile at each other when he walked through the door
And they died with their smiles on their faces
And they died with the smile on their face

So don't cross him and don't boss him
'Cause he's wild in his sorrow, he's ridin' and he's hidin' his pain
Don't fight him, don't spite him, let's wait 'til tomorrow
Maybe he'll ride on again

In the twilight glow I see her
Blue eyes cryin' in the rain
And when we kissed goodbye and parted
I knew that we'd never meet again

Love is like a dyin' ember
Only memories remain
Through the ages I'll remember
Blue eyes cryin' in the rain

Some day when we meet up yonder
We'll stroll hand in hand again
In a land that knows no partin'
Blue eyes cryin' in the rain

And the red-headed stranger from Blue Rock, Montana
Rode into town one day
And under his knees was a ragin' black stallion
And walkin' behind was a bay

And the red-headed stranger had eyes like the thunder
And lips, they were sad and tight
And his little lost love lay asleep on the hillside
And his heart was heavy as night

So don't cross him, don't boss him
He's wild in his sorrow
He's ridin' and he's hidin' his pain
Don't fight him, don't spite him
Just wait 'til tomorrow
Maybe he'll ride on again

A yellow-haired lady leaned out of her window
And watched as he passed her way
She drew back in fear at the sight of the stallion
But cast greedy eyes on the bay

But how could she know that this dancin' bay pony
Meant more to him than life
For this was the horse that his little lost darlin'
Had ridden when she was his wife

So don't cross him, don't boss him
He's wild in his sorrow
He's ridin' and he's hidin' his pain
Don't fight him, don't spite him
Just wait 'til tomorrow
Maybe he'll ride on again

The yellow-haired lady came down to the tavern
And looked up the stranger there
He bought her a drink, he gave her some money
But he just didn't seem to care

When she followed him out as he saddled his stallion
And laughed as she grabbed at the bay
He shot her so quick, they had no time to warn her
And she never heard anyone say

Don't cross him, don't boss him
'Cause he's wild in his sorrow
He's ridin' and he's hidin' his pain
Don't fight him, don't spite him
Just wait 'til tomorrow
Maybe he'll ride on again

The yellow-haired lady was buried at sunset
And the stranger went free, of course
For you can't hang a man for killin' a woman
Who's tryin' to steal your horse

Now this is the tale of the red headed stranger
And if he should pass your way
Stay out of the path of the ragin' black stallion
And don't lay a hand on the bay

Don't cross him, don't boss him
'Cause he's wild in his sorrow
He's ridin' and he's hidin' his pain
Don't fight him, don't spite him
Just wait 'til tomorrow
Maybe he'll ride on again

An it was the time of the preacher
In the year of 01
Just when you think it's all over
It's only begun

Thank you