By
Michael L. Alumbaugh, © Oct. 16, 2010, 2023 (Words to Amazing Grace by John
Newton (1725-1807) Artwork "Apache Ambush" by Frederic Remington (1892)
This song is dedicated to all those “real” cowboys who are man enough to admit they’ve fallen short of God’s standards and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. May your lives reflect Him in your character, actions, words and deeds. May you be true heroes of faith for your children and your children’s’ children’s’ children.
1. When I was just young pup
Still wet behind the ears
I found great grandpa's letter
That'd been lost for many years.
The pages, aged and dog-eared,
Let me know it was no fake
About Cooky
And the circuit ridin' preacher
And the snake.
2. Well, it was on a cattle drive
Pushin' stock down to the rail.
And the men and herd had a ways to go
So Cooky hit the trail.
He'd filled up the old chuck wagon
With about everything he could take
But he didn't plan
For the circuit ridin' preacher
And the snake.
Now Cooky thought himself to be
A purdy self-made man.
And didn't take too kindly
To people or their plans.
But higher things were cookin' up
As he drove out that gate
For Cooky
And the circuit ridin' preacher
And the snake.
3. A few days out of Pecos
Just north of the old Salt Draw
A rowdy band of rustlers
Wanted what they saw.
They'd round up all the cattle
With no man to tell the tale
Along that barren piece of land
Called the Goodnight-Loving Trail.
Well, the bandits waited in the rocks
Till the herd was in the draw.
Then they all commenced to shootin’!
Cowpokes began to fall!
But before they knew what happened
Like a miracle, it came.
A mean west Texas cloudburst
Packing lightning, wind and rain.
4. Now the biggest bolt of lightning
Anyone had ever seen
Struck a lonely tree behind them
In the middle of its beams
And like exploding dynamite
Flaming chunks fell at their feet
Sending bandits and their horses
On a fiery retreat!
Well, the sound of that explosion
And the firing of the guns
Sent the lead cow and the cattle
On a hard stampeding run.
But in all of the confusion,
No one could really see
What flipped that old chuck wagon
Or broke it's double tree.
5. Well, old Cooky took a flying leap
Landing face down in the dirt
He had no time to think about
Whether he was hurt
'Cause that rumbling of hooves
Was headed straight his way.
Now he could stay there and be trampled
But it wasn't Judgment Day!
So he picked himself right up
And made his way toward some rocks.
He grabbed himself a lasso
Layin' next to a broken box.
But what he saw inside the lid
Made his spirit quake!
'Twas his mothers' beloved Bible.
He'd been running from her faith!
6. Well, it wasn't time for prayin'
So he left that treasured book.
He looked at the situation
And forgot he was the cook!
He figured he'd rope the lead cow
Like he'd seen some rounders do
And stop that herd from scattering
From El Paso to Saint Lou'!
Well, he strung out his riata
As he raced along the trail.
Then made his throw
But the loop went slack
And caught the lead cows tail.
Well, that critter began to beller
And Cooky began to reel
'Cause the other end of the thrown rope
Wound round his boot and heel.
7. Now, not too far in the distance,
As if upon some lark,
A circuit riding preacher
Had wandered off his mark.
He saw the lead cow stumble
And heard somebody yell
So he breathed a prayer and spurred his mount
For to save a soul from hell.
8. Well, in all of the commotion
Local varmints couldn't rest.
So wouldn't you know an ornery rattler
Got shaken from his nest.
But as Divine appointments go,
(Others just might call it fate!)
These three hardluck strangers
Had a purdy solid date!
9. Being dragged around behind a cow
Made Cooky's temper flare
He'd had his fill of dirt and rocks
And sharp old prickly pears!
So when the throwin’ rope let go
He'd had all that he could take!
Till that final roll put old Cooky
Staring straight up at that snake.
10. Now just in time
Our circuit ridin’ preacher lumbered in.
Well that horse got spooked
And threw his rider end over end!
But when that preacher grounded
Cooky found himself not dead,
'Cause that preacher'd landed on his heels
And crushed that serpent’s head!
11. Well, Cooky, he just laid there
Dirt and tears upon his face.
He recalled his mother's last words,
How God's Son had took his place.
So there in his humility
He paused, . . .then said "Amen!"
And that circuit ridin’ preacher
Saw a grown man "born again!"
12. Well, every bluff and rim rock
Echoed with a glad refrain
And all the scattered cowpokes
Tho't they’d heard something strange.
Like angels singing in the distance
Filling earth and space
So they bent their knees and bowed their heads
To the sound of "Amazing Grace!"
13.Now some say if you are riding
Around the old Salt Draw
On certain nights when the wind is still
And the night birds fail to call
You can hear a lone and haunting sound
Some say it's your spurs that ring.
But I know for certain
You can still hear old Cooky sing!
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see."
"T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed."
"Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home."
"The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine.
But God who called me here below
Will be forever mine."
"The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures."
"Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace."
"When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun."
