FAIR LADY OF THE PLAINS
Notebook of Edwin Pope Piper, State University of Iowa.

There was a fair lady who lived on the plains,
She stayed with me through the long steady rains;
She stayed with me through the long roundup
And drank with me from the poor bitter cup.
She drank the red liquor that affects a man's soul,
She was a fair lady, just white as the snow.

I taught her the tricks at the cowboy's command,
To use a six-shooter in each one of her hands,
To use a six-shooter and never to run
As long as there was a load left in her gun.

We camped in the canyon the following year,
We stayed there that summer with a herd of fat steer;
'Til the Indians came in on us at the dead hour of night,
She arose from her pillow all ready to fight;
She arose from her pillow with a gun in each hand
Saying, "Come all you brave cowboys, we must win this fair land!"

So loud rolled the thunder and down came the rain
And in came in a bullet that dashed out her brain.
I jumped in my saddle to battle, to fight,
For the Indians had murdered my dear loving wife.

No. 42, pages 120-121, with musical score. Also another close version sung by Joan O'Bryant, from the 42 volumes of the Fife American Collection; also recorded by Kathy Dagel.
No dates are given.

Austin E. and Alta S. Fife, 1969, "Cowboy and Western Songs, A Comprehensive Anthology; Bramhall House, New York.