I hear the sad howling of coyotes prowling
It sounds so mournful to me
It brings back memories of cherished loved ones
Of ones I'm longing to see

I'm riding away out on the lone prairie
The rangers are searching for me
I'm riding away from my home in Texas
A fugitive ever to be

I had a good mother I had a good father
They handed a warning to me
The men that I ran with committed a murder
And laid the blame on me

Little Maggie my sweetheart I know she's lonely
And longs for me to return
My happiness ended the night we parted
And now for her I yearn

How lonely how dreary with nothing to cheer me
My thoughts go stealing back home
My life of sadness will never know gladness
I'm branded forever to roam