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20 Dec 99 - 02:53 AM (#151828) Subject: Lyr Add: THE LEGEND OF THE PALE-EYED COMPANION From: Dale Rose I figured as long as I had my Lawrence Hammond album out, I'd add the lyrics to my favorite song of his. I consider him one of those writers and singers who got far less than his due. Don't sing this one just before going to bed! THE LEGEND OF THE PALE-EYED COMPANION (Lawrence Hammond, Desert Jewel Songs BMI, 1972) As sung by Lawrence Hammond on "Coyote's Dream," Takoma 1047, 1976 They say a New Mexico winter Will drive old Satan from his home, And the poor cowboy who's caught in the blizzard Well he knows that he's never alone. 'Cause the Devil's on the range in the winter. His eyes are the color of snow, And they call him the Pale-Eyed Companion. He's got the shape of a wolf 'round his soul. I ain't a man of superstition, But there are things beneath the sky That can make a long-time cowboy Lay down in the cold snow to die. He feeds on the flames of your campfire To stoke up the fires of his soul, And he'll creep up when the wind starts to howlin'. Lord, he'll leave you at the mercy of the cold. Now a blizzard it caught me north of Clayton. I had fifty head to go up to Raton. The prairie dogs they froze down in their burrows, And every step another steer was gone. I ain't a man of superstition, But there was something caught their eye That made them longhorns sure get edgy When I built me a fire for the night. The blizzard it sang. The cowbells they rang. The note in the wind got so strange ... When I turned 'round in fright, Two eyes in the night Put the winter right into my veins. I drew out my rifle and sighted. I whispered a prayer to the skies, But I found I could only stand and shiver In the light of his pale snowy eyes. And them longhorns they'll die if you run them Too fast in the high drifted snow, But I saddled my pony and I drove them Just as fast as any longhorn will go. I ain't a man to run from danger. Many's the time I've walked Boot Hill, But the ghost of the Sangre de Christos Never blinked as he closed for the kill. I never have rightly remembered How I rode myself in from the range, But I remember that trail boss a-swearin' As I left just twenty head on his hands. I stayed drunk the rest of the winter. Now they say that I'm touched by the moon, But it's because there's a Pale-eyed Companion Who waits for me outside the saloon. Nobody wants a drunken cowboy, But whiskey's warm and friends are cold. Now they say I'm just tellin' stories 'Cause I rode them longhorns down in the snow. |
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02 Feb 02 - 04:57 PM (#640851) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Legend Of The Pale-Eyed Companio From: GUEST The recent request for The Walker of the Snow reminded me of this song that I posted a couple of years ago. There are certain similarities. Does anyone have recent information about Lawrence Hammond? Everything I found on the net is several years out of date. He seems to have dropped out of sight. Some time ago, Doc Watson revived one of his songs, George Gudger's Overalls. |
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02 Feb 02 - 05:01 PM (#640854) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Legend Of The Pale-Eyed Companio From: GUEST,Dale I guess my comments would tell anyone who reads this that I was the GUEST in the last post. But just to confirm ~~ DALE |
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02 Feb 02 - 05:37 PM (#640883) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Legend Of The Pale-Eyed Companio From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Takoma Records was taken over by Fantasy, who seem to concentrate on R&B and Blues. Are Hammond recordings available anywhere? |
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02 Feb 02 - 05:50 PM (#640892) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Legend Of The Pale-Eyed Companio From: GUEST,Dale Not that I know of. Some of his earlier recordings with Mad River are available, though. |