Prodigal Cowboy

After a painting Molly Macree (1860) by Thomas Alfred Jones

National Gallery of Ireland

My head and shoulder hangin’

back by the dusty way

haulin’ a saddle and harness home

at dusk on a Rodeo day

These achin’ joints this bruisin’

will heal in a day or two

but my heart is forever a-heavin’ here

for the wrong that I done to you

All I recall this mornin’

as the gate sprung open wide

were the under-flanks of a stallion high

at the end of a hopeless ride

He threw me to the ground and kicked

his heels as though to say

that now you know how Molly felt

the day you walked away

And I saw you then in the sunset still

more pearly than the skies

and lookin’ at me lonesome-like

with those soft forgivin’ eyes

O Molly dear this cowboy here

has lied and lost his way

and there’s just one word can save me now

alone that you can say

Your Irish smile is speakin’ to me

and mockin’ with its care

but I’m comin’ home to be with you

if you’ll have me Molly dear

Down in the dirt and beaten

hissed by the hungry crowd

all I could think of was Molly O

and I called your name out loud

Molly Macree macushla dear

my Rodeo days are done

and I pray that you’ll take me back again

your son of a dusty gun

My heart is a-heavin’ and heavy

the pickup is chasin’ along

the headlamps are sprayin’ the twilight

the radio’s playin’ our song

Molly my own Irish Molly

my dearest macushla sweet

the prairie-sky sunset around you

the flowers of the fields at your feet