Alabama - Pony Express

(Teddy Gentry/Ken Lambert/Buddy Cannon/Dean Dillon)





He came in and sit down at the end of the bar


His old rawhide shirt full of dust


He asked for a glass and he ordered rye whiskey


He talked himself and he cusses





He left Sacramento early that morning


With a sackful of mail for St. Joe


Had to outrun some outlaws outside of Carson City


Riding where they wouldn't go





He said to me,"Mister,this long riding hell


But I guess it's got to be done


Otherwise how would you get all your mail


If the pony express couldn't run?"





I said,"I hear you,mister and you do your job well


But I hear it won't be for long


They'll be sending the mail by the wire and the rail


And your pony express and you will be gone





He came in and sit down at the end of the bar


His coveralls covered with dust


He said Jesse James had just held up his train


He talked to himself and he cussed





He pulled out of St.Joe early that morning


With the mail and the union payroll


Had to stop for a rockslide outside of Jackson City


And Jesse James made off with the gold





He said,"Mister,this railroading hell


But I guess it's got to be done


Otherwise how would you get all you mail


If that old iron horse couldn't run?"





I said,I hear you,mister and you do your job well


But I hear it won't be for long


They'll be sending the mail without you or the rail


'Cause they say man will fly before long





He came in and sit down at the end of the bar


His face looked all harrard and grey


He ordered a drink and said,"Make it a double"


Boy,has it sure been a long day





He pulled out of Denver early that morning


He said,"You'll never guess where I've been


A highjacker needed a lift down to Kelo


So your mail will be late getting in"





I said,"I hear you,mister and you do your job well


But you know it ain't been that long


They were doing it best with the pony express


Before you and your friends came along...