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Tres Estrellas del Rio
Way down on the border when the wind blows cross the river
The mission bell shimmers and shivers a tune
There's slim law and order save what you can carry
Since the Buffalo Soldiers rode away in platoon
What they left behind them still shines in the moonlight
Where the dinner bell sings with the school bell at noon
There three little flowers sprang forth from the bowers
When Tejas ébano found suelo and bloomed
It's a hard life for green things it's a mean life with short springs
But sometimes amarilla springs forth in full bloom
Catching each wand'ring eye of each lone passerby
Coming into full flower ‘neath the full moon in June
Refrain:
Amarilla Maria, Eliza, and Ruth
They've been makin' their own way since they left their youth
Three pretty sisters carved out an existence
From the prickly pear growin' 'tween 'royo and truth
María kept peace with vecino vaqueros
While Eliza trained mustangs with a whisper and a rope
And Ruth though the youngest would ride with the sheriff
Delivering mail, patching up ol' cowpokes
In the heat of the summer some wild desperados
Rustling cattle leaving ranchos in ruin
Banditos, mosquitos among mariposas
Las tres florece 'neath an old yellow moon
Bridge:
They saddled and rode out next morning at dawn
Returning 'fore nightfall with the steers that were gone
And Maria's horse carried the best prize of all
El Jefe was trussed up and left looking small
Amarilla Maria, Eliza, and Ruth
Makin' their own way runs deep in their roots
Three pretty sisters carved out an existence
And never abandoned each other or truth
No they never abandoned each other or truth
Now down on the border the tower still stands there
Alone 'gainst the bandits of crumble and ruin
One side is gone, but three are still standing
In silent defiance 'neath an old flower moon
But sometimes when the night wind blows strong down the valley
You can still hear the mission bell ringing in tune
Reminding the faithful when they stand together
Is when their true character comes into view
There in the shadow of the crumbling tower
Bloom three ev'ning primrose beneath the full moon
They stand silhouetted where thorns rule the landscape
Refusing to abandon the land or the truth
A lovely reminder there's beauty in truth
Like three pretty sisters together since youth
Repeat 1st refrain
'Tween the prickly pear growin' from 'royo to truth
By the prickly pear growin' from arroyo to truth
Copyright ©
John Stetson
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