G                                        C                      G
Well folks I don't like stories nor am a I going to act
                            C                   D                      G
A part around a campfire what ain't a truthful fact
                                     C          D                      G
Fill up your pipes and listen Ill tell you let me see
    C                   D             C          G
I think it was in '50 from then till 53'

(chord progression continues)

You've all heard tell of Bridger
I used to ride with him
and many a hard days scoutin' I did longside of Jim
and back near old fort Reno a trapper used to dwell
We called him Mad Jack Reynolds the scouts all knew him well

In the spring of fifty we camped on Powder River
We killed a calf of buffalo and cooked a slice of liver
while eating quite contented we heard three shots or four
put out the fires and listened, we heard a dozen more

We all knew old Jack Reynolds had moved his traps up here
so picking up our rifles and hitching up our gear
we moved as quick as lightning to save was our desire
too late the painted heathens had set the house on fire

we turned our horses quickly and waded down the stream
and close beside the water I heard a muffled scream
and there among the bushes a little girl did lie
I picked her up and whispered "I'll save you or I'll die"

God what a ride old Bridger had covered my retreat
so times the child would whisper in a voice so low and sweet
"dear Papa god will take you to Mama up above, no-one left to love me, there's no-one left to love"

The little girl was 13 and I was 22, said I ill be your papa and Ill love you just as true
she nestled to my bosom and her hazel eyes so bright, looked up and made me happy through the close pursuit that night

one year had passed when Maggie, we called her hazel eyes in truth was going to leave me had come to say goodbye
her uncle mad jack Reynolds long since reported dead
had come to claim my angel, his brother's child he said

what could I say, we parted Mad Jack was growin' old
I handed him a banknote and all I had in gold
They rode away at sunrise, I went a mile or two
In parting said we'll meet again may god watch over you

while resting by a babbling brook a little cabin stood
and weary from a long days ride I saw it in the wood
the pleasant valley stretched beyond the mountains towered above
like some painted picture or a well told tale of love

drinkin in the sweetness and resting in the saddle
I heard a gentle rippling like the dipping of a paddle
and turning to the water a strange sight met my view
a pretty girl was seated in a little birch canoe

she stood up in the center a rifle to her eye
I thought for just a moment my time had come to die
I tipped my hat and told her if it was all the same to drop her little shooter for I was not her game

she dropped the deadly weapon and leaped from her canoe
she said I beg your pardon I thought you were a Souix
your long hair and your buckskins looked warrior like and rough
my bead was spoiled by sunshine or I'd a' killed you sure enough

perhaps it would be better had you killed me here said I
for surely such an angel could bare me to the sky
she blushed and dropped her eyelids her face was crimson red
one shy glance she gave me and then hung down her head

then her arms flew around me "I'll save you or I'll die"
I held her to my bosom my long lost hazel eyes
the rapture of that moment was heaven unto me
I kissed her then amid her tears her merriment and glee

her heart gainst' mine was beating when sobbingly she said
my dear long lost preserver they told me you were dead
the man who claimed me from you my uncle good and true lies ill in yonder cabin and he talks so much of you

if Joe where living' Darlin' he said to me last night
he'd care for you dear Maggie when god puts out my light
we found the old man sleepin' hushed Maggie "let him rest"
the sun was slowly sinkin' in the far off golden west

although we talked in whispers he opened wide his eyes
a dream, a dream he, he murmured alas a dream of lies
she drifted like a shadow to where the old man lay
you had a dream dear uncle another dream today

oh yes I saw an angel as pure as drifted snow and standing close beside her was California Joe
she said I'm not an angel dear uncle this you know these little hands and this face were never white as snow

but listen while I tell you for I have news to cheer, your hazel eyes is happy for truly Joe is here
then just a few days later the old man said to me, Joe boy she is an angel or as good as angels be

for three long months she's hunted and Joe she's nursed me too
and I believe that she'll be safe alone my boy with you
then but a few days later Maggie, my wife and I, went riding from that valley with tear drops in our eyes

for there beside the cabin within a new made grave
we laid him neath the daisies, her uncle good and brave
hereafter every gentle spring will surely find us there
at his graveside in the valley we'll keep it fresh and fair

our love was newly kindled while resting by the stream
and two hearts where united in love's sweet happy dream
and now you've heard my story and this you ought to know
that hazel eyes is happy with California Joe

(this is Jim RInger's version, the chord progression here is very simplified)