White Riders

Now men've seen storms come and go

with all their wicked fright,

but few have lived to tell the tale

bout them there riders white.

Was camp not far from border town

where holed up cowboys lay.

Gainst sand and wind they fought real hard

and made it through the day.

With water gone and night not far

the horses just dropped dead.

The cowboys weak too tired for talk

curled up in sandy bed.

Now men've seen storms come and go

with all their wicked fright,

but few have lived to tell the tale

bout them there riders white.

The storm raged on no end in sight

young cowboys all but lame,

when suddenly from some unknown

through sand and wind they came.

They rode in pairs all dressed in white

out of wind and sand a blow. 

A ghostly crew of ten plus two

with extra horse in tow.

Now men've seen storms come and go

with all their wicked fright,

but few have lived to tell the tale

bout them there riders white.

The riders stopped in front of them

and two of them got down.

As they helped one up the other

watched with a worried frown.

They put the man on empty horse

and start to ride away.

The cowboy left cried out to them,

don't leave me here to stay.

Now men've seen storms come and go

with all their wicked fright,

but few have lived to tell the tale

bout them there riders white.

When daybreak comes and storm is gone,

the cowboy lifts his head.

The first thing he sees next to him,

his friend lying there dead.

It hits him like a ton of bricks,

he tries to catch his breath.

Those riders in the storm last night

were the riders of death.

Now men've seen storms come and go

with all their wicked fright,

but few have lived to tell the tale

bout them there riders white.