Pony Express

He came in and sit down at the end of the bar His old rawhide shirt full of dust He asked for a glass and he ordered rye whiskey He talked to himself and he cussed He left Sacramento early that morning With a sackful of mail for St. Joe Had to outrun some outlaws outside Carson City By riding where they wouldn't go He said to me,"Mister, this long riding's hell But I guess it's got to be done Otherwise how would you get all your mail If the pony express couldn't run?" I said, "I hear you, mister and you do your job well But I hear it won't be for long They'll be sending the mail by the wire and the rail And your pony and you will be gone He came in and sit down at the end of the bar His coveralls covered with dust He said Jesse James had just held up his train He talked to himself and he cussed He pulled out of St. Joe early that morning With the mail and the union payroll Had to stop for a rockslide outside Jackson City And Jesse made off with the gold He said to me, "Mister, this railroading's hell But I guess it's got to be done Otherwise how would you get all you mail If that old iron horse couldn't run?" I said, "I hear you,mister and you do your job well But I hear it won't be for long They'll be sending the mail without you or the rail Cause they say man will fly before long." He came in and sit down at the end of the bar His face looked all haggard and grey He ordered a drink and said, "Make it a double Boys it's sure been a long day." He pulled out of Denver early that morning He said, "You'll never guess where I've been A highjacker needed a lift down to Cuba So your mail will be late getting in." I said, "I hear you, mister and you do your job well But you know it ain't been that long They were doing it best with the pony express Before you and your friends came along."