Shadow Cowboy

Who was that tall cowboy I saw ridin’ by the door? He seems just like some shadow that I’ve seen before. He shimmers in the twilight – he was here and then gone— Just a shadow cowboy like the horse he rides upon. It seems we never saw him when things were at their best, But things just don’t stay that way out here in the West. Some say he’s a vaquero that died out on this land By way of some injustice that no one understands. When maw came down with fever as hot as burnin’ Hell, We heard spur chains outside and found water from the well. And in a fleetin’ glance I saw him when maw died— But I was just mistaken ‘cause cowboys never cried. Who was that tall cowboy I saw ridin’ by the door? He seems just like some shadow that I’ve seen before. He shimmers in the twilight – he was here and then gone— Just a shadow cowboy like the horse he rides upon. I never saw him again till fall took paw away— And in he came a ridin’ without a word to say. Or was it just a shadow that flickered on the hill? Or that dark shadow cowboy that came to sap our will? He is gone now forever – of him I do not speak— I do not see him at the door or down by the creek. But pains and aches are heavy and life is just not fair— Before I turn ‘round, I know his shadow will be there. Who was that tall cowboy I saw ridin’ by the door? He seems just like some shadow that I’ve seen before. He shimmers in the twilight – he was here and then gone— Just a shadow cowboy like the horse he rides upon.