OLD DUKE

His mother's wishes are bubbles in a styrofoam cup
To you that ain't nothing but for Old Duke that's enough
Look at you, well-to-do
Man you sure are tough
You think you've got it hard
But Old Duke's had it rough

He's got one coat for the summer and a-one for the cold
And wherever Duke goes he drags them both in tow
He carrys on like a fighter whose been staggered by blows
You think you got hit hard
But Old Duke he sure knows

Out of all God's children he never was picked first
No win no place no show for this raggedy old horse
Akin to Job, his misfortune he won't cry or spit or curse
You say you got it bad, sir
But Old Duke's got it worse

One day I caught up with Duke both us walking in the rain
And I gave him twenty dollars right from my left hand
I wished him fare thee well and never saw him again
Old Duke had given up that night
To the eight o'clock freight train

There's nights that I go out there and I lay upon my back
Waiting for that freight until it shakes up both the tracks
Right until the killer comes a-roaring out the black
Someday I'll go where Old Duke went
I just want Old Duke back
Someday I'll go where Old Duke went
I just want Old Duke back