Top Hand

(album: By The Light Of The Moon: Campfire Songs And Cowboy Tunes - 1997)

The kid was tall and rangy still wet behind the ears
But he could ride and he could rope way beyond his years
He said daddy can I ride with you now that I'm sixteen
Help you drive them dogies up the trail to Abilene

His daddy was a mighty man a cowboy to the bone
Trail boss for the J-Bar Z out east of San Antone
He said boy don't get impatient now you've got a lot to learn
You'll get your chance to be top hand but you'll have to wait your turn

Cause the trail goes on forever and the days get mighty long
If a norther starts to blowing it can chill you to the bone
And there's rivers and there's rustlers and you've got to understand
It takes more than just a cowboy son you've got to be a man

Against his daddy's wishes he left that very day
Signed on with the Double D to drive the Chisholm Trail
They were two weeks out of Texas he was riding drag one night
When a northern started blowing soon the herd was out of sight

The snow was falling faster and the cold wind took his breath
He knew the end was coming he was sure to freeze to death
When out of the blinding whiteness rode a tall and mighty man
He said son I was just passing through thought you could use a hand

Cause the trail goes on forever and the days get mighty long
That old north wind starts blowing it can chill you to the bone
And son a top hand always has to do the very best he can
And I knew you were a cowboy now I know that you're a man
I knew you were a cowboy son now you've become a man