She Could Run

It was in the dead of winter, in a hail of snow and ice

When the pride of old kentucky came gasping into life

She was weak and she was wobbly

And her legs were much too long

But her heart was like a chalice

Where the fire of god was strong

And she could run... run... run...

At six months old they noticed she was faster than the rest

By the time she was a yearling she was racing past the best

So they took her down and trained her,

But they never used a whip

‘cause she’d shoot off like a cannonball

When they let her take the bit

And she could run... run... run...

Now i’ve heard it said

A racin’ horse is only born to run

Some say horses don’t possess a soul

But i have seen a shining there

As bright as any sun

And that comes from only

One great source i know

Well, they ran her in the derby and she won it by a length

Then she took the famous preakness

In a show of speed and strength

They named her in the papers as a favorite of the crowds

A third win at the belmont stakes

Would take the triple crown

And she could run... run...

Praise be to glory she could run

But on the morning of the belmont

The rain was pourin’ down

And the track was wet

And dangerous that day

The bell rang and they cried "they’re off!" but the big bay swerved and fell

And she went down

Trying to jump out of his way

Well, the jockey heard her leg bone snap

As they slammed into the fence

"dear god, don’t let this be," he prayed,

But that’s the way it went

She struggled but she could not rise –

Her eyes rolled white and wild

As he knelt to calm her in the mud he cried just like a child

‘cause she could run... run... run...

Now i’ve heard it said

A racin’ horse is only born to run

Some say horses don’t possess a soul

But i have seen a shining there

As bright as any sun

And that comes from only

One great source i know

Well, she never felt the poison they gave to end her pain

She only heard a quiet voice and felt a gentle rain

Her spirit raced towards the light and she became aware

Of blue sky all around her and bluegrass every where

And she could run... run...

Praise be to glory, praise be to glory

Praise be to glory, she could run...