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Chorus:
Grama grass is turning golden
And the new snow looks like foam
In our bones we feel like old men
In the dying days of summer, it’s time to bring ‘em home
When summer nights begin to change
And calves have reached their weanin’ weight
We drift our cattle off the range
And ease ‘em thru the sorting gate
Chorus
There’s a pattern every fall
That all the ranchers come to know
We hear the long-gone cowboys call
When chilly breezes start to blow
Chorus
Bridge:
If we’re lucky, cows will give birth
On newly thawed earth
And the cycle of life begins again
Chorus
Tag:
In the dying days of summer, it’s time to bring ‘em home
Susanna, she dropped by today. She said, “That's where I used to play
Now it's gotten overgrown
This house is one big memory, Oh Mama! Please come live with me
You know I worry now that you're alone”
Susanna's scared. I'm not afraid. This is the house that Charlie made
Though he's gone, I know where I belong.
I still see him on that swing and often I can hear him sing
“Darlin' won't you come along?
Chorus:
Melinda Rose, come dance with me. The moon is shining brilliantly
And in this light your beauty glows
I will love you tenderly and I promise that I'll be
Forever yours, Melinda Rose”
Three A.M in the snow, headed to the barn although
We sold the stock a few years back
I whistled for the dog then knew just last month, I lost him too
I guess that I was losing track
But someone called to me that night, and waiting in the silver light
There was Charlie standing in the snow
Snowflakes shining in his hair, like diamonds in the frosty air
“Come on beautiful, let's go
Chorus
Bridge:
Susanna found me there next day and I was smiling they say
Beside my footprints in the snow
One set led to where I lay, two sets of footprints danced away
Who it was, they'll never know
Chorus
Tag:
Oh Charlie
I will love you tenderly and I promise that I'll be
Forever, your Melinda Rose
Oh, the knot in my gut is tight as a fist, tight as the knot in my grip
The bull beneath me's about to explode. I'm in for one helluva trip
Oh, the luck of the draw, Ol' Hurricane, never been rode so they say
As mean as they come, that look in his eye, saying, “You're gonna hurt today”
Chorus:
Oh ride, ride, slide-n-ride for the win
I need to cowboy up to claim that jackpot purse
If I'm gonna make Cheyenne
One round to go in this rodeo. Lord, my head's in a spin
One round to go, I gotta hang on, hang on and ride for the win
Bridge:
Eight seconds seems forever, spurring, balance-n-strain
'Til I knew I covered that Ol' Hurricane
Now, I ain't no kid at thirty-three. The ground's getting harder it seems
I don't bounce back like I used to do, chasin' these rodeo dreams
Now, one of these days I'll hang it up, thank those rodeo clowns
I'll have some tales to tell the kids 'til that last buzzer sounds
Chorus
Tag:
One round to go in this rodeo. Lord, my head's in a spin
One round to go, I gotta hang on
Hang on and ride for the win
Mickey Doherty blew up a car, a bridge and part of his leg
When he got up, we gave him a bowl and set him down to beg
Lucky he was no other was hurt and only himself to blame
Lucky we were we had such a spy and loyal to the game
Jimmy Connolly, deep in his cups, decided to strike a blow
He was partial to fighting and not to the cause, but that we did not know
He had a daughter, Aine Grace with tangled curls of gold
She followed her da’ around like a pup, and not yet five years old
Chorus:
The rain came down, washed out Derry town
All that we were doing went unseen
We held each other strong; sang the whole night long
T'was a black day for the wearing of the green
Jimmy Connelly took a gun to the roof of the old hotel
When the troops came marching by, he blew most of them to hell
He took off a-running. Ach, such a hue and cry
Ya think he must have wished by then to grow some wings and fly
He ran down to Flanigan’s Pub where the music drew a crowd
Pulled himself together, marched in straight and proud
Stopped the music to announce the deed that he had done
And demanded that we stand with him so he’d not have to run
Chorus
Flynn and Ryan dragged Jim out and down to Foyle Moat
They did not know what else to do so hid him on Duggan’s boat
Mick Doherty found Aine Grace crying in the street
He led her down to Flanigan’s for her father there to meet
They crossed paths with Duggan who was headed for his boat
He said they’d meet the others and together they would float
Down the river to the Loch, out to the sea and gone
He thought that they would all be safe if they reached the Loch by dawn
Chorus
They made it down to Clooney and toward St. Columb’s Park
They thought their luck was holding, hidden safely in the dark
But the British troops were lined up waiting for the boat to pass
When the first light of the morning turned the Foyle to bright glass
Five good men and one small girl, and not yet lifted sail
Not one of them survived the shells that came down on them like hail
We saw it from upriver, when the boat went up in flames
Nothing left for us to do but remembering their names
Tag
Jimmy Connelly , Mickey Doherty
Billy Duggan, Michael Flynn
Patrick Ryan, Aine Grace Connelly
T’was a black day for the wearing of the green
We lived 'cross the street from a feed lot
Where horses stood waiting for rides
In a truck to a place where they made glue
From the hooves and old hearts and tough hides
I'd hang on the fence as I watched them
One eyed me and sniffed at my hand
I climbed on and whispered, “Let's go, boy”
Not sure where I thought I would land
Chorus:
I was a glue-lot cowboy
I dressed and I acted the part
Only a glue-lot cowboy
But a real one, in my heart
My friends found me at the feed lot
Each claimed the best horse that he found
We trotted around that enclosure
And pretended we raced 'round and 'round
We hooted and hollered and chased calves
Lassoed that last wild roan
Till Daddy showed up and he grabbed me
And grounded me when we got home
Chorus
A song brought back thoughts of those horses
I pictured them strong in their stride
I hope they remembered us cowboys
And were glad for their very last ride
Chorus:
Diamonds and gold, diamonds and gold
A man could be tempted by diamonds and gold
He'll spend his life and endanger his soul
Searching for diamonds and gold, diamonds and gold
Her blue eyes twinkled like diamonds
Her hair sparkled just like spun gold
With fortune we'd easily marry
And forever her soft hands I'd hold
I heard about a lost treasure
Long stashed in a far badlands cave
But only a fool would go looking
With desert and outlaws to brave
I packed up my gear and my bedroll
My wagon, my tack, and my team
Set out to discover the treasure
To share with the girl of my dreams
Chorus:
Diamonds and gold, diamonds and gold
A man could be tempted by diamonds and gold
Out on the trail for the treasure foretold
Searching for diamonds and gold, diamonds and gold
I traveled for weeks 'til I found it
A spire on a bluff laced with gold
Beneath the spire lay a cavern
There I found my diamonds and gold
I reached for the gold as I trembled
I touched it and felt a sharp fang
Gold rattler with scales of brown diamonds
Slid under a rock overhang
My vision went dark as I wavered
I heard her soft voice in my ear
She whispered, "You chased after treasure
And lost everything you held dear."
Chorus 3:
Diamonds and gold, diamonds and gold
A man could be tempted by diamonds and gold
He’ll lose his life and he'll give up his soul
For diamondback diamonds and gold, diamonds and gold
Her blue eyes twinkled like diamonds
Her hair sparkled just like spun gold
I thought of her as I lay dying
My heart and my dreams growing cold
Chorus 4:
Diamonds and gold, diamonds and gold
I'll never return to my woman to hold
I lost my life and I gave up my soul
A victim of diamonds and gold, diamonds and gold
Tag:
I wasted my life and endangered my soul
Now I'm with diamonds and gold
Forever with diamonds and gold
Claire is a long-legged beauty, eyes like the Montana sky
She works down at Joe's All-Nite Diner, watches the world pass her by
Some say she's a Vegas showgirl who's gotten too old for the lights
Claire never answers their questions. She goes home alone every night
Roy is a tall dark cowboy. A former bull rider, I heard
That scar on his face, well it's a mystery. Don't ask him; he won't say a word
He sold all his buckles and saddles, bought that Texaco over on Vine
Drives a tow truck like it's an old bronco, works late all the time
Chorus:
For a midnight cup of coffee, there's just one place to go
The lights are always on; they never close
The waitresses are friendly, and everybody knows
It's service with a smile down at Joe's
Bridge:
A big Montana snowstorm blew through town last fall
Claire was headed home at 2 a.m.
Roy was working late shift when he got the call
From a woman who was stranded out on highway 10
Now, Roy eats at the diner. He goes out of his way
Claire waits on his table. She's smiling more these days
Sometimes on the weekends, you'll see Roy's truck roll by
Claire is riding shotgun by his side
Chorus
Tag:
Yes, it is
It's service with a smile down at Joe's
Selma in the summer. Wish you were here
This heat is driving me nuts
Sticky and still, can’t sleep at night. Wish you were here
Too much noise from all the bugs
Chorus:
I want to leave. I want to leave
Things are finally coming clear
Darling, oh darling, instead of me
Oh, I wish you were here
Winter in Wisconsin. Wish you were here
Icy wind screams through the trees
Shaking, and shivering, can’t sleep at night. Wish you were here
Feeling like my breathe will freeze.
Chorus:
I want to leave. I want to leave
If this snow would only clear
Darling, oh darling, instead of me instead of me
Oh, I wish you were here
Bridge:
What you put me through has got me feeling worse than blue
I just had to up and go somewhere
Now I’m so alone, and I wanna be back home
And I could and I would but you’re still there
Huddled in a deep hole. Wish you were here
This pit of sorrow and despair
Broken and blinded, there’s no way out. Wish you were here
There’s no ladder, and there’s no stair
Chorus:
I want to leave. I want to leave
Allow me, please, to make this clear
Darling, oh darling, instead of me instead of me
Oh, I wish you were here
Chorus:
You’ll finally see. You’ll finally see
I’ll make it home, and let’s be clear
Darling, oh darling, instead of me, instead of me
How I wish you were here
Tag:
Believe me when I tell you
I'm wishin' I were home, and oh
How I wish you were here
I wish you were here
Catch two below the hocks, boys, then drag ‘em to the fire
Work ‘em slow and easy, lest you stir the boss's ire
The family’s at the coals with hot irons and vaccination
Young and old, each has a job in this time-worn occupation
Chorus:
It’s a cowman’s rite of spring, this brandin’ calves tradition
A western “sport of kings” and an honored avocation
Catch two below the hocks, boys, then bring ‘em slow and steady
Ain’t no time to tarry for the ground crew’s at the ready
A couple hundred calves to brand; we’ll have ‘em worked by midday
Turn each one out, mother him up, and know we’ve earned our pay
Chorus
Bridge:
The wives’re in the kitchen cookin’ up a good-size spread
Fixin' beef and taters, dessert and homemade bread
We'll wash up at the house, heap our plates to overflowin’
Eat out in the shade, grin about the calves a-growin’
Chorus
Tag:
Catch two below the hocks, boys, we’ll sing your praises loud
We’re feedin’ America good red beef, so set your horses proud