Shoshone Rose

She speaks English well enough to pass for white
Works twice as hard as any man and her skin is light
Hangs back in the shadows around the fire
So no one can tell that she’s Shoshone in disguise

It was easy gettin’ into camp
Just waited ‘til the guard got drunk and took that chance
Lay his body up the stream a quarter-mile
Now the water’s running foul and they don’t know why
They don’t know why
They don’t know why

Keep your hair up, hat down low
Don’t talk to people you don’t know
Tell that horse to go, go, go
And ride, Shoshone Rose

She’s the last and bravest of the scouts
And the only woman standing with her head unbowed
‘Cause she made a promise, took a vow
That she’d never rest until she’s run the white men out

Now the Moon in new, the stars are bright
And it’s dark enough to go unnoticed here tonight
Death dressed in a deerskin shroud
Is coming for the General and it’s too late now
It’s too late now
It’s too late now

Keep your hair up, hat down low
Don’t talk to people you don’t know
And tell that horse to go, go, go
And ride, Shoshone Rose

She slips inside his canvas tent
Lets her black hair fall all the way down to her hips
Locks her eyes and licks her lips
Gives the General her softest kiss

Lust is smoke, it clouds the sight
By the flickering flame of candlelight
Such sweet release he closed his eyes
And barely felt the Bowie knife
The Bowie knife
The Bowie knife

Keep your hair up, hat down low
Don’t talk to people you don’t know
Tell that horse to go, go, go
And ride, Shoshone Rose