Cat. #0726 (MFH #69) - As sung by Glenn Orhlin, Mountain View, Arkansas on May 25, 1969
VERSE 1
Billy Vanero heard them say
In an Arizona Town one day
That a band of Apache Indians
Was on th trail of death
VERSE 2
Their tales of murder done
Three men killed at Rocky Run
Their in danger at th cow ranch,
Cried, Vanero under his breath
VERSE 3
Cow ranch, forty miles away
In a little place that lay
In a deep an' shady valley
In th mighty wilderness
VERSE 4
Half a score of homes were there
In one a maiden fair,
Held th heart of billy Vanero
Was Vanero's little babe
VERSE 5
Not a moment, he delayed
When his brave resolve was made
My man, his comrades told him
When they heard his daring plan
VERSE 6
You are riding straight to death,
But he answered, save your breath
I may never reach th cow ranch
But I'll do th best I can
VERSE 7
Low an' lower sank th sun
He drew rein at Rocky Run
Here three men met death, my chapo
An' he stroked his glossy mane
VERSE 8
So to those who go to warn
N'er th coming of th morn
If we fail, God help my Bessie
An' he started on again
VERSE 9
Sharp an' clear a rifle shot
Broke th echos of th spot
I am wounded, cried Vanero
As he swayed from side to side
VERSE 10
While there's life there's always hope
Slowly onward I shall lope
If I never reach th cow ranch
Bessie Lee shall know I tried
VERSE 11
I will save 'er yet, he cried
Bessie Lee shall know I tried
S' f'r 'er sake he halted
In th shadow of a hill
VERSE 12
Then with trembling hands he took
From his chaps a little book
Tore a blank leaf from its pages
Said, this shall be my will
VERSE 13
From a limb a twig he broke
Then he dipped his pen of oak
In th warm blood that was flowing
From a wound above his heart
VERSE 14
Now, he wrote before to late,
Apache warrikors lie in wait
Good-bye, G'd bless you darling
An' he felt th cold tears start
VERSE 15
Then he made th message fast
His first message an' his last
To th saddle horn he tied it
Then he slips th brides with pain
VERSE 16
Take this message, if not me
Straight to little Bessie Lee
He tied 'imself to th saddle
An' he started on again
VERSE 17
Just at dusk a horse of brown
Wet with sweat came panging
Th little range of th cow ranch
An' he stopped at Bessie's door
VERSE 18
But th rider was asleep
An' his slumber was so deep
Little Bess could never wake him
Tho' she tried for ever more
VERSE 19
You have heard th story told
By the young an' by th old
Down yonder by th cow ranch
Th night th Apaches came
VERSE 20
How th sharp an' bloody fight
How she fell in th night
An' th panick stricken warriors
When they heard Vanero's name
VERSE 21
Now th Heaven an' earth between
Keeps a little flower so green
Bessie Lee helped planted 'er
They laid 'er by his side