Bound For El Paso

(album: Fireside With Louis L'amour - 2021)

They circled the cabin
She stepped out to meet them
With a Winchester rifle
That'd kept them away

Twelve young apaches
On Calico ponies
Leader among them
On a white paint bay

He looked down upon her
Sincere admiration
Many had fought him
And many had died

Was she alone
Where was her husband
He asked her the question
To which she replied

I wait for the man
Who's bound for El Paso
Riding alone fetching seeds and supplies

Leaving behind
His home in the canyon
Wife and two children
With tears in their eyes

In a quiet saloon
Near Culberson county
An argument led to the end of a gun

From the bar stood a traveler
Who did what he could
To even the odds that were three against one

A thunderous sound
Followed by silence
The traveler lay dead with a hole in his side

His newfound companion
Knelt down beside him
Asked who he was
The bartender replied

Lying there's a man
Who was bound for El Paso
Riding alone fetching seeds and supplies

Leaving behind
His home in the canyon
Wife and two children
With tears in their eyes

This newfound companion
Set out for the canyon
Headed for nowhere
But he never slowed down

One early morning
He awoke to the sounds of
Calico ponies
And hoofs on the ground

He fought for his life
But finally fell captive
Certain he'd come to the end of his days

His fight was over
His fate was sealed
By the will of the leader on the white paint bay

Come morning light
He awoke near a cabin
The leader looked on
As his hands were untied

He looked around briefly
Silently wondered
Would this be the moment he finally died

The cabin door opened
And out stepped a woman
A Winchester rifle held close to her side

That newfound companion
Looked up at the woman
She asked who he was
To which he replied

I'm in debt to a man
Who was bound for El Paso
Riding alone fetching seeds and supplies

Leaving behind
His home in the canyon
Wife and two children
With tears in their eyes