Author Information
OLD WAGON MASTER
He was an old wagon master
half injun some said
he was wiley and dangerous
and would leave you for dead
They called him John Dumas
cause thats what he'd been named
he was wilder than satan
and couldn't be tamed
He was born in the mountains
on a cold Christmas Eve
he was tougher than leather
and could make you believe
That his Ma was a panther
and his Pa be a snake
his laugh was so fearsome
and would sure make you shake
I've heard it said
he only bathed once a year for
his clothes were all stiff and wrinkled
and torn in the rear
He n'er combed his hair
and he wore a dirty old cap
with an owl feather stuck in it
back there in the flap
He had little squint eyes
and a grizzled old beard
he could scream like a panther
and do other things that yer feared
He was one of the meanest
old kodger's that I knew
but if you ask him a question
he'd answer it true
For years he'd been traveling
leading wagons out West
over rough savage counry
it was what he done best
He could circle them wagons
or keep 'em in line
he was swift as an eagle
and them wagons rolled on time
And over green hills and valleys
them wagons would roll
and at night the coyote's howling
would curdle yer soul
Why he'd sit by a camp fire
on a cold windy night
and tell scarey tales to the children
who'd be wild eyed with fright
He was fearsome and rugged
red faced and wild eyed
and don't disobey him
or you'd wished you had died
For he took no back talk
for t'was his life on the line
for he could lead you there swiftly
and get you there fine
And God help the Indian
who ere crossed his path
for he'd scalp' em and leave 'em
and they'ed feel his wild wrath
He was faster than lightening
if his pistol he drew
for he'd fought in some duels
and had brought down a few
There was fourteen notches
on the barrel of his gun
and you minded your manners
or you might become one
Some say, he had a woman
a big tall Souix gal
some say
that she was meaner that he was
and she shore wasn't no pal
That he'd leave her for months
just to fend for herself
but she could fight like a savage
and could scare you to death
Well he woke up one morning
in the year '52'
thought he'd ride down to the lowlands
t'would be something to do
And so he left her that fine day
said he'd be back real soon
so he rode down that mountin
just a whistleing a tune
But he was gone for a long time
he just didn't come home
adventure was calling
and he left her alone
He rode down to St. Louis
to bring back a wagon train
it took him some months
and he weren't back till spring
But he figured that woman
of his would be fine
she was strong as an ox
tough as a wild mountain lion
She would hunt the wild bison
she could hunt like a pro
an so he'd pack up his gear
and away he would go
Now he rode up that mountain
just a whistleing a tune
but his face soon turned livid
and his heart turned to gloom
For a week ere he departed
a war party rode by
and they used and abused her
and left her to die
And all he found of her
was a piece of her skirt
it was bloodied and ragged
and oh, how he hurt
And that old mountain man
found he did have a heart
for he'd loved that mean woman
then his eyes started to smart
Now his tears started coming
like a river this time
a stream down his face
that was salty as brine
Then he started in screaming
some would call it a yell
but the sound that he made
it come straight from hell
Now there was no use for living
for his life now was o'er
no more the young man
he had been once before
No more hunting the wild deer
or raise his fists in a fight
now he stood alone and dejected
now life held no delight
Now the silence closed 'round him
and it clung like a cloke
now his breathing went shallow
for his old heart was broke
No more the wild fighter
he was just all alone
and his heart was so heavy
and was colder than stone
So he rode down the mountain
without family or friend
disappeared in the distance
and was ner heard from again
He died there that winter
froze to death in the snow
he let it happen on purpose
for t'was a good way to go
Now his story has ended
for his soul's taken flight
and once again
he's circling them wagons
up in heaven tonight
