Manyberries (2003 Reissue Bonus Track)

(album: Modern Pain - 1995)

As I got down on the bull that I had drawn to ride
The instincts of my fourteen years
Were checking who was on my side
An old-timer pulled my rope; he had darker skin than me
Said "Keep your chest out son, keep your elbows bent
Keep a pretty good spring in those knees"

And then everything got quiet
Went out there with a grimace on my face
And that old bull bucked a mean old ride
I rode him good enough for second place
When I tracked down that wise old Indian man
I said "You give me good advice"
But I was one scared and nervous kid
When that blue fire lit in his eyes

His legs were crossed, he slapped his boot
He stamped his foot down on the chute
He looked me in the eye and said
"You see son, that's my heritage"
His legs were crossed, he slapped his boot
He stamped his foot down on the chute
He tightened up my rope and said
"Now kid, you've gotta ride him"

And that's all there is and all she wrote
About the man from Manyberries

Years later I met him on the transit
In the city of deathly forces
Well, there ain't many rodeos
And there sure ain't no bucking horses
Said "I used to ride professional
'Til the bottle turned me out
And now I just curse the youngsters and
I try to tell 'em what it's all about
My forefathers wore the headress
Tooled the flints that they could find
Me I grew up chasing cows
And lots of broncs to ride
So when you see me in my straw hat
And broke in Tony Lamas
I'm living what I know
And that is all that I can promise"

His legs were crossed, he slapped his boot
He stamped his foot down on the chute
He looked me in the eye and said
"You see son, that's my heritage"
His legs were crossed, he slapped his boot
He stamped his foot down on the chute
He tightened up my rope and said
"I know you're gonna ride him"

And that's all there is and all she wrote
About the man from Manyberries
Yes sir!