Oh, the cold of the mountains, back in the backwoods The cold of the mountains, the unwritten law
Oh, the cold of the mountains, way back in the backwoods Where Harry and Joe Brown shot Charlie McGraw
They found him at daybreak, back in the backwoods Found him at daybreak, he was down on his knees
He pleaded for mercy, way back in the backwoods He pleaded for mercy, oh please hear my plea
Said Harry to Charlie, back in the backwoods Said Harry to Charlie, you thought you were sly
But the cold of the mountains, way back in the backwoods The cold of the mountains, it says you must die
Harry loaded his rifle, back in the backwoods Loaded his rifle, Joe loaded his too
One shot another, way back in the backwoods One shot another, and then it was through
They buried old Charlie back in the backwoods Buried old Charlie without any friends
One shot another, way back in the backwoods One shot another, and that was the end