There was a rich old rancher who lived in the country by, He had a lovely daughter on whom I cast my eye; She was pretty, tall, and handsome, both neat and very fair, There's no other girl in the country with her I could compare.
I asked her if she would be willing for me to cross the plains; She said she would be truthful until I returned again; She said she would be faithful until death did prove unkind, So we kissed, shook hands, and parted, and I left my girl behind.
I left the State of Texas, for Arizona I was bound; I landed in Tombstone City, I viewed the place all round. Money and work were plentiful and the cowboys they were kind But the only thought of my heart was the girl I left behind.
One day as I was riding across the public square The mail-coach came in and I met the driver there; He handed me a letter which gave me to understand That the girl I left in Texas had married another man.
I turned myself all round and about not knowing what to do, But I read on down some further and it proved the words were true. Hard work I have laid over, it's gambling I have designed. I'll ramble this wide world over for the girl I left behind.
Come all you reckless and rambling boys who have listened to this song, If it hasn't done you any good, it hasn't done you any wrong; But when you court a pretty girl, just marry her while you can, For if you go across the plains she'll marry another man.