MISSOURI BORDERLAND – Joe Newberry (Mandolin Orange Version)
[Verse 1]
C Am F C
I am far away from home, with neither fa - mily nor friends
F C G C
I never meant to stay so long, in the Missouri borderland
C Am F C
Three years ago I held a job and saw the wo - rld from my pony, Suede
F C G C
Riding drag on a dusty mile, I knew I’d worked when I drew my pay
C Am F C
The times got hard, Christ, times got mean and I fell in with desperate men
F C G C
And one night the worst of them laid out what was an awful plan
[Verse 2]
C Am F C
I did not like such wicked talk of murder and bold robbery
F C G C
I told those men I would walk and they all aimed their guns at me
C Am F C
Their prisoner I helped - them rob a bank, and much gold we did obtain
F C G C
They shot a boy just for the sport. I stood and watched his young life wane
C Am F C
Such dreadful sounds, I never heard. His mother’s wai - ling filled the room
F C G C
She looked at me and screamed these words “the Devil take you to your doom”
[Verse 3]
C Am F C
I turned and faced that murderous crew. I shot ‘em dead, I killed all four
F C G C
And the only thing I rued, I had not thought of that before
C Am F C
The posse found - me outside of town, as I was knee - ling there to pray
F C G C
From a gallows high I’m to lay down in the dark Missouri grave
C Am F C
Please hide the rope stains around my neck, when my mo - ther sees me dead
F C G C
Please don’t let my brothers take the fateful path I chose to tread
C Am F C
Cause I am far away from home with neither fa - mily nor friends
F C G C
I never meant to stay so long in the Missouri borderland
F C G C
And now I’ll spend eternity in the Missouri borderland
