"I'm called a spade
My mind has done been made"
That's what the man, he said
Then he threw his money down
And they passed the cards around
This weren't no children's game


He said his name
Was just a passin' thing
While I looked at him confused
But I soon knew what he meant
With his revolver spent
On everything but me


Just then he laughed
And handed me a bag
Said, "Could you fill it for me please? "
Then we rode all night long
Through the dark into the dawn
Before we finally took our rest

Said he'd come in
From Galveston
That troubled city by the gulf
He said, "I knew your sister well
So when I saw you I could tell
By that ribbon on your sleeve"

"I'm sorry to say
Your sister's passed away
I seen it with my own two eyes
And those same evil men
Who killed my closest kin
They were sittin' there by you"

"Listen to me
Life is misery
Trouble's always on the way
And if I were you
I know what I'd do
Because they're sure to fall the spade"