Sanoja: Alabama. Forty Hour Week. Pony Express.

(Teddy Gentry/Ken Lambert/Buddy Cannon/Dean Dillon)

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 himself and he cusses

He left Sacramento early that morning
With a sackful of mail for St. Joe
Had to outrun some outlaws outside of Carson City
Riding where they wouldn't go

He said to me,"Mister,this long riding 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 express 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 of Jackson City
And Jesse James made off with the gold

He said,"Mister,this railroading 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 harrard and grey
He ordered a drink and said,"Make it a double"
Boy,has it 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 Kelo
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...