| I’m riding one bright evening 'neath the starlit western sky
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| The silver moon down on the sage did shine
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| As I spurred my pony onward, my guitar I softly played
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| To the tune of some coyote’s lonely cry
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| Just then my pony halted, his ears up straight did go He trembled as I stepped down by his side
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| With a glance I saw a shadow, on the prairie there did lie
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| A little curly-headed blue eyed boy.
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| O dee ay, dee ay lee, O ay lee O, dee lay ee.
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| Not very far beyond him his little Pinto fell
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| His leg was broke as there in pain he lay
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| And his frightened eyes were blinking as I drew my Forty Four,
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| Do not kill me his kind eyes just seemed to say.
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| «Don't shoot him, sir, I beg you, he is my only pal
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| We’ve rode the range together day by day
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| My poor father is a drunkard and he turned me from the door;
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| Dear mothers up in heaven far away.
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| O dee ay, dee ay lee, O ay lee O, dee lay ee.
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| She left me one bright morning, with the angels she does dwell,
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| We’ll meet upon that other range some day
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| As she kissed my little forehead then a picture she did draw,
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| From a golden locket as I heard her say.
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| «My time has come to leave you, the best of pals must part,
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| Please promise mother always to be true
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| Thro' the long and lonely hours when your little heart’s forlorn
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| Remember there’s an angel watching you.
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| O dee ay, dee ay lee, O ay lee O, dee lay ee.
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| Just then the little fellow bowed down his weary head
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| And this is all his trembling lips did say
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| Please take care of little Pinto, try and help him to get well
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| I’m now heading for a round-up far away.
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| You’ll find on Pinto’s bridle, a treasure that is dear
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| Please put it by my heart when I have gone
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| 'Tis a picture of my mother dear, the best pal that I knew,
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| I’m leaving now to meet her far beyond.
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| O dee ay, dee ay lee, O ay lee O, dee lay ee… |