Lyrics

My name is Bob Schmidt and I’m runnin’ from the law
300 miles to come here, I swam the river strong
Took another man’s wife, took her for my own
Now the boys are trailin’ me, I got 300 miles to go

My brother left me back on the bank of the Mississippi
Never thought it would be the last time I’d fare him well
That day the gates of heaven must have opened to his soul
For my family sent me word he never returned home

Chorus
Here I come to the great land
Gonna fetch me a piece of black gold
Left my worries across the river
And my past so far behind

I settled near a town where no one knew my name
Baptized in the local bar I drank my sins away
Found me some work on a farm West of town
Earned myself a horse, field and a plow

Chorus

Sometimes when I least expect it a longing sets in
I don my old trusty boots and head straight for the field
To climb atop the mighty lone rock that lies dead in the center
Not a hundred men could move her and on her sturdy back I stand
Set my eyes, to the East
I can almost see it, I can almost taste it

Chorus