Cat. #1412 (MFH #952) - As sung by Sara Jo Fendley, Leslie, Arkansas on April 23, 1962
CHORUS:
The Tennessee stud was long an' lean
Th color of th sun an' his eyes were green
He had the nerve an' he had th blood
An' there never was a hoss like th Tennessee stud
VERSE 1
Along about eighteen twenty-five
I lived to see very much alive
I never would'a made it thru th Arkansas mud
If I hadn't been ridin' on th Tennessee stud
VERSE 2
I had some trouble with my sweetheaert's Pa
One of her brothers was a bad outlaw
I sent her a letter by my Uncle Fred
And I rode away on th Tennessee stud
VERSE 3
As I was ridin' in a beautiful land
I ran smack into an Indian band
They raised their guns with a whoop an' a yell
And away I went like a bat out'a well
VERSE 4
I circled their campfire a time or two
Jest to show 'em what a Tennessee hoss could do
Th red-skin boys didn't get my blood
Cause I was a ridin' on th Tennessee stud
VERSE 5
I drifted down into no-mans land
Crossed th river called th Rio-Grand
Raised my guns with th Spainards bold
Till I got me a skin full of silver an' gold
VERSE 6
Me an' a gambler, we couldn't agree
We got in a fight over Tennessee
I drew my gun, he fell with a thud
An' I got away on th Tennessee stud
VERSE 7
I got as lonesome as a man could be
Dreamin' of my gal in Tennessee
Tennesee stud's green eyes turned blue
Cause he was a dreamin' of his sweetheart, too
VERSE 8
Looped right on across't Arkansas
I whipped her brother an' I whipped her Pa
I found that girl with th golden hair
And she was ridin' on th Tennessee mare
VERSE 9
Stirrup t' stirrup an' side by side
We crossed th mountains an' th valleys wide
Came to big Muddy an' we forded th flood
On th Tennessee mare and th Tennessee stud
VERSE 10
Pretty little baby on th cabin floor
Little hoss colt hagin' 'round th door
I love th girl with th golden hair
An' th Tennessee stud loves th Tennessee mare