Ode To Owen Beal (True Story)

Maybe some fifty years back, give or take nine or ten In a one horse town, Owen was the burro For many a year he rode with the wild bunch, that he did Never could get enough whiskey wisdom for old Owen Even got some schoolin in Old Mexico Most said that he had been doing it since he was a kid Courthouse records showed that he had taken ten brides Owen would only "fess" up to nine Then one day he finally saw the light It was the straight and narrow, no more wild rides I think the last bride made him walk the line Had a long talk with The Good Lord every night Took regular employment at the old Gem Grocery Store Get all slicked up, white shirt and tie Was the butcher to the bag boy, wore a long white apron Pretty much did it all, swept the peanut shells off the floor Had a grin a mile wide, hated to hear a baby cry Did not gossip, but kept up with the "goins on" The rancher's wives loved Old Owen, give him their shopping list A saloon just down the street, the rancher's would have a few Owen was their lookout, he remembered his past Filling the wives groceries bags, keeping them happy without a doubled fist Owen's way of keeping tranquility between the two He was an angel, just praying it would last