Marty Robbins - Prairie Fire lyrics

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While drivin' a herd of cattle out in old Nebraska way<br />

Headin' east at Broken Bow one hot September day<br />

Tryin' to get to Omaha we hoped to find a buyer<br />

We never counted in the odds of a western prairie fire<br />

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A hot south wind was blowin' and the air was gettin' dry<br />

Somethin' far away was spellin' trouble in the sky<br />

Comin' closer was a sound that topped the devil's choir<br />

Then we knew we had to race a raging prairie fire<br />

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When all at once a flame is seen a lickin' at the sky<br />

And every heart is quicker and there's fear in every eye<br />

We'd just one chance to get away for there's no place to hide<br />

Gotta reach the river Platte one inch deep and one mile wide<br />

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The herd is gettin' tired but we've got no time to rest<br />

I try to clear the red dust that is gatherin' in my chest<br />

From ridin' tail on a thousand head with the weather gettin' dry<br />

The black cloud in the west is warning ride ride ride<br />

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The roarin' heat is closer ashes fallin' by our side<br />

And every breeze is burnin' singin' with it's warnin' cry<br />

We've got to reach the river but it's still ten miles or more<br />

And close behind us we can hear that wind infernal roar<br />

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But fate had other plans for we lost that fatal race<br />

We lost for neither man nor beast could long keep up the pace<br />

The mighty Platte subdued it's rage but none were there to rest<br />

We did our best to get away but only I am left<br />

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Now on the blackened prairie far as the eye can see<br />

The grim remains are there to show that God rules you and me<br />

Just one he left to tell the tale just one was his desire<br />

We lost our herd and thirty men to a raging prairie fire