When the potbellied thieves chase their unwelcome guest
For my guns and my saddle will always be filled
Yes, they'll catch me napping one day and they'll kill me
To catch me and hang me, my shining Black Bess
I never took food from the widows and orphans
You snort, my good pony and you give me your best
We soon will be riding my shiny Black Bess
If robbing the rich is for worse or for best
No fat rich man's pony can e'er overtake you
And I take it my way, my shiny Black Bess
There's not a rider from the east to the west
Just like the Bible and the prophets suggest
So take your pace easy for home soon like lightning
And the rangers and deputies are hired by the rich man
For you know, and I know, good horse 'mongst the rich ones
To the playhouse of fortune to take the bright silver
And gold you have taken from somebody else
I ride and your running makes my guns talk the best
The men that go riding to help these poor workers
And then I'll be gone but that won't be my end
I don't know good horse as we trot in this dark here
How oft times we go there an unwelcome guest
By unwelcome travelers and other brave men
Could hold you a light in this dark mist and midnight
They take it by stealing and lying and gambling
And as we go riding in the damp foggy midnight
They'll take the money and spread it out equal
I treat horses good and I'm friendly to strangers
And never a hard working man I oppressed
