Pony Express

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 to himself and he cusses

He left Sacramento early that morning

With a sackful of mail for St. Joe

Had to outrun some outlaws outside Carson City

By riding where they wouldn't go

He said to me, "Mister, this long riding's 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 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 Jackson City

And Jesse made off with the gold

He said to me, "Mister, this railroading's 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 haggard and grey

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

Boys it's 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 Cuba

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."