This song has a rather poignant message, but I'm not sure what it is. We're all more expendable than we think? Or guys in bars can be assholes?


PONY EXPRESS
(Murray F. Cannon / Theodore Gentry)
As sung by Alabama on "The Touch" (1986)

He came in and sat down at the end of the bar,
His old rawhide shirt full o' dust.
He asked for a glass and he ordered white whiskey.
He talked to himself and he cussed.
He'd left Sacramento early that mornin'
With a sackful of mail for Saint Joe,
Had to outrun some outlaws outside Carson City
By ridin' where they wouldn't go.
He said to me, "Mister, this long ridin's hell,
But I guess it's gotta 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 sat 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'd pulled out o' Saint Joe early that mornin'
With the mail and the Union payroll,
Had to stop for a rock-slide outside Jackson City,
And Jesse made off with the gold.
He said to me, "Mister, this railroadin's hell,
But I guess it's gotta be done;
Otherwise, how would you get all your 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 sat down at the end of the bar.
His face looked all haggard and gray.
He ordered a drink and said, "Make it a double.
Boys, it's sure been a long day."
He'd flown out of Denver early that mornin'.
He said, "You'll never guess where I've been.
A hijacker needed a lift down to Cuba,
So your mail will be late gettin' 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."