Lyr. Add: UTAH CARL (cont.)
Gordon Coll.

11
About fifty yards behind her Utah Carl came riding fast,
Though he little thought that moment that the ride would be his last.
Many times from off his saddle he had caught a trailing rope-
To raise Lenore at full speed was, he saw, his only hope.
12
As his horse approached the maiden, sure of foot with sturdy bound,
Low he swung from off his saddle to catch Lenore from the ground.
As he hung from off his saddle every cowboy held his breath,
For the feat that he was trying was a feat for life and death.
13
Low he swung as fast he passed her and he caught her in his arm,
And I thought he was successful and was safe from further harm.
But such weight upon the cinches had never been felt before,
And the hind cinch snapped asunder as he fell beside Lenore.
14
As Lenore fell from her pony she dragged the blanket down,
It fell there close beside her as she lay upon the ground.
Utah Carl picked up the blanket, and again, "Lie still," he said-
Then, runing across the prairie, waved tha blanket over his head.
15
When he started 'cross the prairie every cowboy gave a cry;
He had saved the boss's daughter, but they knew he had to die.
He had turned the maddened cattle from Lenore, his little friend,
And he heard the steers upon him, but he stopped to meet his end.
16
Quickly then from out his holster Utah Carl his pistol drew,
He was bound to die while fighting, like a cowboy bold and true.
The pistol flashed like lightning, the reports rang out loud and clear,
Still on the herd came rushing, though he dropped the leading steer.
17
Quick the cattle were upon him, and my pardner had to fall-
Never more he'd cinch a broncho, never give a cattle call.
For he died upon the range, and it seemed most awful hard-
I could not make the distance in time to save my pard.
18
When we broke into the circle on the ground my pardner lay,
From a dozen cuts and bruises his young life flowed away.
I knelt there beside him, and I knew his life was o'er
As I heard him faintly murmer, "I am coming, lie still Lenore."
19
And these were Utah Carl's last words, he had gone that endless trail,
And she sought his eyes with reverence while his face grew thin and pale.
He had closed life's final roundup at the Master's dread command,
And my tears came down in silence as I clasped my pardner's hand.
20
There's somewhere a grand, bright future, so I've heard the preachers say,
And I know that my young pardner won't be left on that last day.
And if but an unknown cowboy, he was ready here to die-
I know that my young pardner has a home beyond the sky.

Robert W. Gordon Collection 1005, Library of Congress.
Melody from the 42-volume Fife Collection.

Reproduced in A. E. and A. S. Fife, 1969, Cowboy and Western Songs, A Comprehensive Anthology, Bramwell House, reprint.