I'd be riding horses if they let me
Sleeping outside at night and not take fright
I would ride the range and never worry
I would disappear into the night
[Chorus:]
Everybody needs an angel
But here's that devil by my side
Death had rings upon his fingers
Poor boy hanging on the line
They'd be drawing straws inside the courtroom
As a sudden twilight turns to black
Torches burn into the sad eyes
On the wrong side of the tracks
Make those horses jump through hoops of flame
They won't kick and they won't scream
Let the good Lord do the driving
Poor boy sinking in the stream
I can smell the camp fires burning
But I'll go out walking on my own
By day and night the world keeps turning
Frightened people hiding in their homes
[Chorus]