Red Headed Stranger Medley - Live at Harrah's Casino, Lake Tahoe, NV - April 1978

And it was the time of the preacher

When the story began

And the choice of a lady

And the love of a man

And he loved her so dearly

And he went out of his mind

When she left him for someone

That she'd left behind

He cried like a baby

And he screamed like a panther in the middle of the night

And he saddled his pony

And he went for a ride

It was the time of the preacher

In the year of 01

Well, now the preachin' is over

And the lesson's begun

Last night I came home and I knocked on my door

And I called to my love as I oft had before

And I knocked and I knocked, but no answer there came

No kisses to greet me, no voice call my name

And I could not believe it was true, oh Lord

I could not believe it was true

And my eyes filled with tears, I must've aged in years

I could not believe it was true

Shock was so great, I am quiverin' yet

I'll try to forgive but I cannot forget

My heart breakin' loss is another man's gain

And her happiness, always, I hope will remain

And I could not believe it was true, oh Lord

I could not believe it was true

And my eyes filled with tears, I must've aged in years

I could not believe it was true

But he could not forgive her

Though he tried and tried, he tried

And the halls of his memories

Still echo her lies

And he cried like a baby

Screamed like a panther in the middle of the night

And then he saddled his pony

And he went for a ride

It was the time of the preacher

In the year of 01

Now the lesson is over

And the killing's begun

Well, he rode into Blue Rock

Dusty and tired

And he got him a room for the night

And he lay there in silence

Too much on his mind

Still hoping that he was not right

But he found them that evening at a tavern in town

In a quiet, little out of the way place

And they smile at each other when he walked through the door

And they died with their smiles on their faces

And they died with the smile on their face

So don't cross him and don't boss him

'Cause he's wild in his sorrow, he's ridin' and he's hidin' his pain

Don't fight him, don't spite him, let's wait 'til tomorrow

Maybe he'll ride on again

In the twilight glow I see her

Blue eyes cryin' in the rain

And when we kissed goodbye and parted

I knew that we'd never meet again

Love is like a dyin' ember

Only memories remain

Through the ages I'll remember

Blue eyes cryin' in the rain

Some day when we meet up yonder

We'll stroll hand in hand again

In a land that knows no partin'

Blue eyes cryin' in the rain

And the red-headed stranger from Blue Rock, Montana

Rode into town one day

And under his knees was a ragin' black stallion

And walkin' behind was a bay

And the red-headed stranger had eyes like the thunder

And lips, they were sad and tight

And his little lost love lay asleep on the hillside

And his heart was heavy as night

So don't cross him, don't boss him

He's wild in his sorrow

He's ridin' and he's hidin' his pain

Don't fight him, don't spite him

Just wait 'til tomorrow

Maybe he'll ride on again

A yellow-haired lady leaned out of her window

And watched as he passed her way

She drew back in fear at the sight of the stallion

But cast greedy eyes on the bay

But how could she know that this dancin' bay pony

Meant more to him than life

For this was the horse that his little lost darlin'

Had ridden when she was his wife

So don't cross him, don't boss him

He's wild in his sorrow

He's ridin' and he's hidin' his pain

Don't fight him, don't spite him

Just wait 'til tomorrow

Maybe he'll ride on again

The yellow-haired lady came down to the tavern

And looked up the stranger there

He bought her a drink, he gave her some money

But he just didn't seem to care

When she followed him out as he saddled his stallion

And laughed as she grabbed at the bay

He shot her so quick, they had no time to warn her

And she never heard anyone say

Don't cross him, don't boss him

'Cause he's wild in his sorrow

He's ridin' and he's hidin' his pain

Don't fight him, don't spite him

Just wait 'til tomorrow

Maybe he'll ride on again

The yellow-haired lady was buried at sunset

And the stranger went free, of course

For you can't hang a man for killin' a woman

Who's tryin' to steal your horse

Now this is the tale of the red headed stranger

And if he should pass your way

Stay out of the path of the ragin' black stallion

And don't lay a hand on the bay

Don't cross him, don't boss him

'Cause he's wild in his sorrow

He's ridin' and he's hidin' his pain

Don't fight him, don't spite him

Just wait 'til tomorrow

Maybe he'll ride on again

An it was the time of the preacher

In the year of 01

Just when you think it's all over

It's only begun

Thank you