Billy Venero Lyrics - Marty Robbins

In an Arizona town one day 

Bill Venero heard them say 

That a band of Apache Indians 

Were on the trail that way 

Heard them tell of murder done 

Three men killed at Rocky Run 

"They're in danger at the cow ranch" 

Said Venero under his breath! 

Nearly forty miles away 

Was a little place that lay 

In a deep and shady valley 

In the mighty wilderness 

Half a score of homes were there 

And in one a maiden fair 

Held the heart of Bill Venero 

Bill Venero's Little Bess. 

So no wonder he grew pale 

When he heard the cowboy's tale 

Of the men that he'd seen murdered 

There at Rocky Run 

Sure as there's a God above 

I will save the girl I love 

By that love I hold for Bessie 

I will see that somethin's done! 

Not one minute he delayed 

When this brave resolve was made 

"But, man," his comrades told him 

When they hears his daring plan 

"You are riding straight to death!" 

But he answered, "Save your breath, 

I may never reach the cow ranch 

But I'll do the best I can." 

As he crossed the alkali 

All his thoughts flew on ahead 

To the little band at Cow Ranch 

Thinking not a danger near 

With his quirt's unceasing whirl 

And the jingle of his spurs 

Little Chapo bore the cowboy 

O'er the far away frontier. 

Sharp and dear a rifle shot 

Woke the echoes of the spot 

"I am wounded," cried Venero 

As he swayed from side to side. 

"While there's life there's always hope 

Slowly onward I will lope 

If we fail to reach the Cow Ranch 

Bessie Lee will know I tried." 

Then at dusk a horse of brown 

Wet with sweat came panting down 

The little lane at Cow Ranch 

Stopped in front of Bessie's door. 

But the cowboy was asleep 

And his slumber was so deep 

Little Bess could never wake him 

Though she tried forever more. 

You have heard this story told 

By the young and by the old 

How the Indians killed Venero 

On his way to Rocky Run. 

Many years have passed away 

And the maiden's hair is gray 

But still she places roses 

On Bill Venero's grave.