He dut'en really
like a crowd and he never laughs out loud,
he'll just shake his head and grin and walk away.
Clay's a quite sorta feller, kinda straight and kinda proud,
and I never saw him cry until today.
I guess you'd say we're pretty close and I know him more than most.
He is the kind that does his share and then some more.
Clay knows his job and knows it well although he would never boast,
And I never ever saw him shirk a chore.
I recall some years ago when we were riding in the snow
And found that filly stuck there in that drift.
Why she took his heart that way I guess I'll never know,
But ole Clay sure seemed to think she was a gift.
I said "I think your wasting time" but to him she was sublime,
And he gave me a look that said where I should go.
Well I'd learned well not to argue when he'd made up his mind,
So we set to work and pulled her from the snow.
You should have seen that filly all spindly legged and chilly.
And you should have seen the way she took to Clay.
And I don't think I've ever seen him act so down right silly,
As he rubbed her down and they began to play.
Oh I thought it really funny when he called the filly honey,
Said "I guess ye found yourself a girlfriend."
Well he's disposition changed and it wasn't quite so sunny,
So I thought it best my own business to attend.
We tried hard to find the mare but we found not hide nor hair,
So Clay guessed we'd better take the filly home.
There was a storm coming in and a chill in the air,
And we knew she'd never make it on her own.
I'd never seen ole Clay take to anything that way,
And ain't never seen a horse with that much brain.
He put her on a schedule and he worked her every day.
T'was a pleasure and a thrill to watch em train.
Drifty's what he named her, for the snow bank where he clamed her,
And him and Drifty never seemed to be apart.
She never seemed to question, she'd go anywhere he aimed her.
Oh you'll rarely to find a horse with that much heart.
Well them two they made a team. She s' number one in ole Clay's string,
And he could always count on her to take the heat.
It was her that he was ridin the only time I heard him sing.
It seemed to me she sorta made his life complete.
Well, the years don't hesitate no matter how you wish they'd wait,
And that mare she begin to show her age.
Ole Clay knew her work was done; he could feel it in her gait.
He knew that it was time to turn the page.
So during roundup time last fall ole Clay finally made the call,
And sadly left that mare out of his string.
He turned her out on grass where it was green and tall,
So she could take it easy till the spring.
Clay was prickly half the day. We just stayed out of his way.
It seemed he couldn't catch his on two feet.
Oh he cussed that bay he's ridin, said he wasn't worth his hay.
I recon he was feeling purtty bleak.
But that day at dinnertime you never heard such a shine.
Old Drifty'd brought herself in off that grass.
It was as if to say retirement she'd decline,
Thank ye but she reckoned she'd just pass.
Ah you should a seen Clays eyes and seen his spirit rise,
When he saw her standing proudly with the rest,
Waiting for her turn to work like it was no surprise,
And acting kinda like she'd been transgressed.
You should a seen the way he petted and you could see that he regretted
Knowing he'd just have to turn her out again.
And when he walked away you should a seen the way she fretted,
Like she knew things weren't the way they'd always been.
She weren't the only one confused and I was getting some amused
As I watched him move his hat and scratch his head.
Then ole Clay he just got mad for the kindness she'd refused,
Said he guessed he'd ride the nag till she dropped dead.
Ah we knew he didn't mean it, said we'd believe it when we seen it,
But he went and stripped his saddle off that bay.
Oh he was anything but mad as to the mare we watched him bring it.
There ain't never been a prouder man that Clay.
He brushed her down real gentle acting kinda sentimental.
Then he eased the saddle up there on her back.
He ruffled up her topknot. Yeah he liked her just a little,
Talking easy as he tightened up her tack.
Soon we all went back to work and the way Clay seemed to perk,
Well it seemed to make all our spirits raise.
When his rope settled on the horns and he give his slack a jerk,
You could see the beaming in his eyes.
But then ole Drifty stumbled some and we knew her work was done.
We knew that was the last catch she would make.
Ole Clay led her back to camp a feeling prutty glum.
It was enough to make cowboy's old heart ache.
But Drifty wouldn't go away; she'd show up each and every day.
No matter where Clay was she'd hunt him down.
He never rode her none but he'ed just pet and play,
And she became a legend all around.
She'd just hang out with the string eating treats that we would bring,
Then at night she'd just wander off and graze.
She just kept a getting fatter; she was living like a queen.
I'm telling you them were some blissful days.
Well work was hard today and there weren't no time to play,
We was focused on the task at hand.
When I got time to breath and looked around for Clay,
He was gazing out across the land.
Old Drifty hadn't showed and I guess that we all knowed
That something bad had surely come about.
The boss he looked at Clay and then up to us he rode,
He said "Boys lets wrap her up and have a scout."
Well we split up every way, except for me and Clay.
I thought I'd better stick a little close.
He was worried sick and silently I prayed,
"Lord it just ain't time to say adios."
"Help us find her Lord, this mare we all adore,
And Lord please let ole Drifty be okay.
It ain't for me Dear God but for Clay that I implore.
Please help us find this ole mare that's gone astray."
Well we topped out on a rise and much to our surprise,
There's ole. Drifty munching grass beside a pond.
We took a closer look and could not believe our eyes,
A little felly kicking heels up just beyond.
Well I just knew that she was dead, never dreamed that she was bred.
We figured she's just fat from all our treats.
I breathed another prayer, "Thank you Lord I said
You sure know how to make this ole life sweet."
Clay eased in nice and quite but much to his delight,
That little filly trotted up without a fear.
Then old Drifty moseyed over and everything was right,
When I heard Clay call that little felly Dear.
Today I heard him laugh out loud, oh he was mighty proud.
And it was a sight to watch that little filly play.
Then Clay took me by surprise when he took off his hat and bowed,
And I ain't never seen him cry until today.
© 2009, Keith Ward
These lyrics may not be reprinted or reposted
without the author's written permission.
