Utah Carl

Cat. #0209 (MFH #664) - As sung by Reba Glaze, Springdale, Arkansas on July 23, 1958

VERSE 1
My friend, you ask the question
Why I'm so sad and still
Why my brow is always darkened
Like a cloud upon th hill

VERSE 2
Mid th cactus and th thistle
Of New Mexico's fine land
Where th cattle roamed by thousands
With many a mark an' brand

VERSE 3
There's a grave, without a headstone
Without a date or name
In silence sleeps my comrade
In th land from which I came

VERSE 4
Long we had ridden together
We had ridden side by side
I loved him as a brother
I wept, when Utah died

VERSE 5
O, long we'd ridden together
Thru cutouts and burned th brand
Thru dark an' stormy weather
We gained that night herd stand

VERSE 6
We had rounded up one morning
Our work was almost done
When to th right th cattle
Started in a madden run

VERSE 7
Our bosses little daughter
Was herding on this side
Started out to stop th cattle
It was there that Utah died

VERSE 8
As Lenor rushed her pony
To turn them to th right
Th red blanket slipped beneath her
She caught fast and held on tight

VERSE 9
When th cattle saw th blanket
Almost dragging th ground
They were madden in a minute
An' charged with abound

VERSE 10
When th cattle saw th blanket
Every cowboy held his breath
For they knew if her pony failed her
None could save th girl from death

VERSE 11
When Lenor, saw th danger
She lightened th ponies pace
An' leaning in her saddle
Tried th blanket to replace

VERSE 12
But, in leaning she lost her balance
Fell in front of that wild tide
Lie still, Lenor, I'm coming
Are th words that Utah cried

VERSE 13
T'was in just about one moment
Utah Carl came riding past
Little did he think that moment
That ride, would be his last

VERSE 14
Many times from out his saddle
He had caught the trail 'n rope
But to catch her now at full speed
He saw his only hope

VERSE 15
Th horse approched th danger
Sure and fast at every bound
And he swung from out his saddle
To raise her from th ground

VERSE 16
He leaned from out his saddle
To raise her in his arms
He thought he'd been sucessful
And had saved th girl from harm

VERSE 17
But th weight upon th cinches
Had never been felt before
And his front cinch burst asunder
And he fell beside Lenor

VERSE 18
As Lenor, fell from her pony
She dragged th red blanket down
And it lay there close beside her
As she lay upon th ground

VERSE 19
Utah Carl, picked up th blanket
And waved it o'er his head
An' running across't th prairie
Lie still Lenor, he said

VERSE 20
Soon, he had turned th stampede
From Lenor, his little friend
But th cattle rushed upon him
And he stopped to meet his end

VERSE 21
He fought them with brave courage
Never shrieked or grieved, with pain
Th cattle rushed upon him
And he knew his end was near

VERSE 22
Then quickly from his holster
Utah Carl, his pistol drew
He was willing to fight, while dying
As a cowboy brave an' true

VERSE 23
His pistol flashed like lightning
The report rang loud and clear
Th cattle rushed upon him
But he dropped th leading steer

VERSE 24
I rode into th circle
I knew his life was o'er
And bending, I heard him whisper
Lie still, I'm coming Lenor

VERSE 25
Somewhere there is a future
I've heard th preacher say
I don't think that our friend Utah
Will be lost on that great day

Variants