Bosque County Romance – Steven Fromholz
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Mary Martin was a school girl, just 17 or so
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When she married Billy Archer 'bout 14 years ago.
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Not even out of highschool, folks said it wouldn't last
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But when you grow up in the country you grow up mighty fast.
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They married in a hurry, in March 'fore school was out.
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Folks said she was pregnant. " Just wait and you'll find out."
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It came about that winter one grey November morn.
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The first of many more to come, a baby boy was born.
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And cattle is their game
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And Archer is the name they give to the acres that they own.
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If the Brazos don't run dry and the newborn calves don't die
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Another year from Mary will have flown.
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Another year from Mary will have flown.
Chorus:
And cattle is their game.
And Archer is the name they give to the acres that they own.
If the Brazos don't run dry and the new-born calves don't die
Another year for Mary will have flown
Another year for Mary will have flown
Now Billy he kept what cattle his daddy could afford
Bouncin' cross the cactus in a 1950 Ford
But the cows were sick and skinny and the weeds was all that grew
But Billy kept the place alive, the only thing he knew
And Mary cooked the supper and Mary scrubbed the floor
And Mary busted horses and blew the baby's nose
And Mary and her shotgun kept the rattlesnakes away
But how she kept on smilin, no one could ever say
Repeat Chorus
Now the drought of '57 was a curse upon the land
No one in Bosque County could give Bill a helpin' hand
The ground was cracked and broken, and the truck was out of gas
And cows can't feed on prickly pears, instead of growin' grass
Then the weather took the water and a snakebite took a child
And the fire in the old barn took the hay that Bill had piled
The mortgage got the money and the screworms got the cows
The years had come for Mary, she's waitin' for 'em now
Mr Mudd and Mr Gold
Well the wicked king of clubs awokeAnd it was to his queen turnedHis lips were laughing as they spokeHis eyes like bullets burned
The sun’s upon a gambling dayHis queen smiled low and blissfullyLet’s make some wretched fool to playPlain it was she did agree
He send his deuce down into diamondHis four to hart, and his trey to spadeThree kings with their legions comePreparations soon where made
They voted club the days commanderGave him an army face and numberAll but the outlaw jack of diamondsAnd the aces in the sky
Well, he gave his sevens first instructionsSpirit me a game of studStakes unscarred by limitationBetween a man named Gold and man named Mud
Club filled Gold with greedy vaporsTill his long, green eyes did glowAnd Mud was left with the sighs and tremblesWatching his hard earned money go
Flushes fell on Gold like waterTens they paired and paired againBut the aces only flew through heavenAnd the diamond jack called no man friend
Now, the Diamond Queen saw Muds ordealBegan to think of her long lost sonFell to her knees with a mother’s mercyAnd prayed to the angels every one
Now, the Diamond Queen, she prayed and prayedAnd the Diamond Angel filled Muds holeThe wicked King of Clubs himselfFell in face down in front of Gold
Now, three kings come to Clubs commandBut the angels from the sky did rideThree kings up on the streets of GoldThree fireballs on the muddy side
The club queen heard her husband’s callBut Lord, that Queen of Diamond’s joyWhen the outlaw in the heavenly hallTurned out to be a wandering boy
Now, Mud he checked and Gold bet allAnd Mud he raised and Gold did callAnd the smile just melted on his faceWhen Mud turned over that diamond ace
Now, here’s what this story’s toldIf you feel like Mud you’ll end up GoldIf you feel like lost, you’ll end up foundSo amigo, lay them raises down