Utah

And now my friends you ask me what makes me sad and still
And why my brow is darkened like clouds upon a hill
Run in your pony closer and I'll tell you all the tale
Of Utah Corral my partner and his last ride on the trail

Mid the cactus and the mesquite of Mexico's fair land
Where the cattle roam in thousands many a herd and many a brand
There's a grave with neither headstone, neither date nor name
There lies my partner sleeping in the land from which I came

We rode the range together, we rode it side by side
I loved him as a brother, I wept when Utah died

We were rounding up one morning, our work was almost done
When away the cattle started on a mad and fearful run
The boss's little daughter was holding on that side
She started in to turn them, that's where my partner died
She used a saddle blanket, given her by a friend
It was this bright red blanket brought Utah to his end
As Varro rushed her pony at the cattle on the right
The blanket slipped beneath her and caught the stirrup tight

When the cowboys saw the blanket, they all held their breath
If now should the pony fail her, none could save her from her death
When Varro saw the cattle, she turned her pony's face
She leaned from out her saddle, tied the blanket in its place
But in leaning lost her blanket, fell in front of that wild tide
"Lie still, Varro, I'm coming," were the words my partner cried

About fifteen yards behind her, Utah came riding fast
Though he never saw that moment, the ride would be his last
His pony reached Varro with firm and steady bound
He swung from out the saddle to catch her from the ground
But the cinches of his saddle had not been felt before
And his back cinch snapped asunder and he fell beside Varro

He now picked up the blanket and swung it o'er his head
And started 'cross the prairie, "Lie still, Varro," he said
His six-gun flashed like lightning, the report rang loud and clear
As the cattle rushed to kill him, he dropped the leading steer

And when we broke the circle where Utah's body lay
With many a wound and bruise, his young life had ebbed away

And in some future morning, I heard the preacher say
"I hope we'll all meet Utah at the roundup far away"

Then we wrapped him in a blanket, set him by his little friend
And was that very blanket that brought Utah to his end