Edwards Don - Patonio Pride Of Plains guitar tab

Don't know who wrote this song it has been recorded by Don Edwards in recent

years.

3/4 time

C G C

I'll tell you a story that will thrill you I know

G

Of a horse I once owned in New Mexico

C F C

You will gaze at his picture with wondering eyes

G C

And then at the arrow, that hangs by its side

He was swift as an antelope and black as a crow

With a star on his forehead as white as the snow

His arched neck was covered with a dark flowing mane

And I called him Patonio the pride of the plains

The country was new and the settlers were scarce

The Indians on the warpath were savage and fierce

Though the scouts were sent out everyday from the fort

Yet they never came back so we knew they were lost

One day the captian says someone must go

Across the dark borders of New Mexico

A dozen young fellows straightaway answered here

But the captain spied me I was standing right near

Patonio was by me his nose in my hand

Said the captain your horse is the best in the land

You're good for the ride your the lightest man here

On the back of that mustang you have nothing to fear

Then proud of my pony I answered you know

Patonio and I are both willing to go

For speed and endurance I'll trust in my black

Then they all shook my hand and I mounted his back

Turned down the dark pathway turned his head to the right

The black struck a trot and he kept it all night

When far back behind me I hear a shrill wail

I knew that the Indians were hot on my trail

I jingled the bells at the end of his rein

Spoke his name softly and stroked his dark mane

Patonio answered with a nod of his head

His dark body lengthened as faster we sped

We were leaving the Indians the story was plain

The arrows fell round us like torents of rain

Patonio he stumbled I knew he was hurt

But still he raced onward and into the fort

I delivered the message then tried to dismount

But the pain in my foot was so bad I could not

The arrow you see hanging there on the wall

Had passed through my foot saddle stirrup and all

With good care and patients Pat and I were soon well

Of his death many years later I will not try to tell

Of all the fine horses I rode o'er the range

The was none like Patonio the pride of the plains