I was out in the wild
Trying to catch some supper
And bring it home to sweet mama
But when the pony headed back
To our home valley
I knew I'd been gone too long:

- And I crossed the Rock River the day before she died

I reached home just afer dark
Looking for mama
But she was nowhere on our land
So I kicked the frontdoor open
Saw the rope above her
And the shadow of the dirty gunman

- And I crossed the Rock River the day before she died

I chased him through Arkansas
From Texas to Missouri
He took me up north
From Saint Antoine To Saint Louis
He was haunted
But I had the time
I wanted him back
To the scene of the crime

- And he crossed the Rock River the day before he died

Well, we reached Rock River
And we reached the other side
He looked back
Kinda fraid for his life
I pulled my trigger
And I hitted him
Right between the eyes
And then I roped him up to mama
To the roaches & the flys

Rock River Rock River
Rock River Rock River
Rock River