Across The Wide Missouri Lyrics - Kingston Trio

Translate: German | French | Spanish | Italian | Russian | Portuguese

Send "Across The Wide Missouri" Ringtone to your Cell

Desert Pete

Artist: The Kingston Trio (peak Billboard position # 33 in 1963)
Words and Music by Billy Edd Wheeler


I was travellin� West a buckskin on my way to a cattle run
Cross a little cactus desert under a hot blisterin� sun
I was thirsty down to my toenails, stopped to rest me on a stump
But I tell ya I just couldn�t believe it when I saw that water pump
I took it to be a mirage at first, it�ll fool a thirsty man
Then I saw a note stuck in a bakin� powder can
�This pump is old�, the note began, �but she works so give�r a try�
�I put a new sucker washer in �er, you may find the leather dry�

�You�ve got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe�
�You�ve got to give of yourself �fore you�re worthy to receive�
�Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet�
�Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete�

�Yeah, you�ll have to prime the pump, work that handle like there�s a fire�
�Under that rock you�ll find some water I left in a bitters jar�
�Now there�s just enough to prime it with so dontcha go drinkin� first�
�You just pour it in and pump like mad, buddy, you�ll quench your thirst�

�You�ve got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe�
�You�ve got to give of yourself �fore you�re worthy to receive�
�Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet�
�Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete�

Well I found that jar and I tell ya nothin� was ever prettier to my eye
And I was tempted strong to drink it, cuz that pump looked mighty dry
But the note went on �have faith my friend, there�s water down below�
â��You got to give until you getâ�"Iâ��m the one who ought to knowâ��
So I poured in the jar and I started pumpin� and I heard a beautiful sound
Of water bubblin� and splashin� up outta that hole in the ground
I took off my shoes and I drunk my fill of that cool refreshing treat
I thank the Lord and thank the pump and I thank old Desert Pete

�You�ve got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe�
�You�ve got to give of yourself �fore you�re worthy to receive�
�Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet�
�Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete�

�Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet�
�Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete�


Transcribed by Ronald E. Hontz
ronhontz@worldnet.att.net

Send "Across The Wide Missouri" Ringtone to your Cell