Song of the Cougar

I sing you of lonesome valleys
Where the moon drags over the hill
And the fire dies down inside you
And you weep if you can...if you will...

Your friends cry, "Oh mercy, oh mercy"
For they fear you are losing your youth
And must pay out your gold for the powder
That helps you to cover the truth.

Then into the valley rides Billy,
I sing you of pretty young men,
I sing you of older women,
Oh, Billy is my best friend.

Oh, Billy is younger than springtime
And his face is freckled and fair
And the sun shine's so pretty, so pretty
On Billy's wavy red hair.

And you have not reached out to touch him
Though often you dream that you did
The devil made bandits not heroes
And a straight shooting Billy the Kid.

Then into the valley rides Billy,
I sing you of pretty young men,
I sing you of older women,
Oh, Billy is my best friend.