The Ballad of Rat Creek

There’s a high, rocky road over Creede, Colorado

That holds many secrets from the people below

Where a creek cuts the valley, through the great San Juan Mountains

Though beautiful, few dare to go, but for there lies silver and gold.

Early last summer, my father passed on

And left a good fortune of silver to me

That’s when I first met her, a fair headed beauty

Who promised to set my soul free, and forever both happy we’ll be.

Up on Rat Creek I could feel her heartbeat

As we laid in the meadow staring up at the sky

Where Western stars sparkle, above where we sleep.

She was with me on Rat Creek that night. I loved her on Rat Creek that night.

She was tall and handsome, with songs in her eyes

She asked me to take her to my father’s old mine

We saddled our horses, in the summer sunrise

And we made it there about half past nine, and her eyes like the silver did shine.

Up on Rat Creek, I could feel her heartbeat

We made love at the entrance leading down to the mine

With our bodies both aching, and needing of sleep.

We set camp up on Rat Creek that night. Together for one cold, last night.

As the morning sun glistened, up over the creek

A shadow of a hammer, fell out of the sky

She brought it down swiftly, upon both of my feet

And she ran for the horses to ride,

Then I cursed, and her name I did cry

Up on Rat Creek, my weakened heart beats

As I lay in the meadow staring up at the sky

With the steel of a hammer, she has set my soul free

And she left me on Rat Creek to die. With my last breath, bid Rat Creek ‘goodbye’.