Spanish Johnny

The old West, the old time,

The old wind singing through

The red, red grass a thousand miles --

And, Spanish Johnny, you!

He'd sit beside the water ditch

When all his herd was in,

And never mind a child, but sing

To his mandolin.

The big stars, the blue night,

The moon enchanted lane:

The olive man who never spoke,

But sang the songs of Spain.

His speech with men was wicked talk --

To hear it was a sin,

But those were golden things he said

To his mandolin.

The gold songs, the gold stars,

The world so golden then:

And the hand so tender to a child --

Had killed so many men.

He died a hard death long ago

Before the Road came in --

The night before he swung, he sang

To his mandolin.