GRAND CANYON LINE
(learned in the 1960s from an unidentified tape)
On the Grand Canyon Line I was ridin' along,
I passed by the bank and no money I had,
Sittin' alone in a boxcar's four walls,
The boxcar door opened and the posse walked in,
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
On the Grand Canyon Line I was singin' no song,
On the Grand Canyon Line I was ridin' along,
Couldn't go back to Texas 'cause I know I done wrong.
It wasn't that I really meant to be bad,
But I robbed the State Bank with a tremblin' hand,
With my pistols and money through the big door I ran.
Because of a break in the rich man's laws,
I thought of my sweetheart and started to cry,
When I am caught, by the neck I will die.
The sheriff said, Grab 'im, boys, that's him;
They took me to the jailhouse and now I must die,
Five hours to live, how the time it does fly.