Harry Tracy

A desperate ditty, 1911.
Words by Ren Shields.
Music by Leighton Bros.

The sheet music:

Harry-Tracy – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:

Harry_Tracy – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

There was a desperado
In the wild and wooly west
Who was not afraid of sheriffs
And to them he was a pest
In battle he was a wonder
And at shooting he was game
Harry Tracy was the desperado’s name

Chorus
Oh You Harry, Harry Tracy, Harry Tracy
In no common prison would he stay
For in most all the jails
He would find a pair of scales
Get on the scales, that’s how he got away

  1. In Portland he was sentenced
    For to do his little bit
    When he tried on his prison suit
    He nearly had a fit
    He said I must get out of here
    Before I get the gout
    Right then he got the measles and broke out

Chorus
Oh You Harry, Harry Tracy, Harry Tracy
He liked to lick up liquor very well
While he was doing time
He drank whiskey, beer and wine
The jail had bars in front of ev’ry cell

  1. He drove down to a river
    Where he saw an open boat
    He quickly sprng into it
    Down the river he did float
    Three sheriffs tried to follow
    But he pulled his forty-four
    He shot them in the river near the shore

Chorus
Oh You Harry, Harry Tracy, Harry Tracy
Boat got filled with water
Did he shout?
No! This quick-witted soul
In the bottom bored a hole
Which very quickly let the water out

  1. He saw a baby playing
    Upon the railroad track
    The fast express came speeding
    Right behind the baby’s back
    He then lassoed the engine
    Pulled the train out in the weeds
    He saved the child but killed a hundred Sweeds

Chorus
Oh You Harry, Harry Tracy, Harry Tracy
Bad man with a gun, without a doubt
Each time he got a bun
He’d then load up his gun
And go round the town shooting off his mouth

  1. They got bloodhounds to trail him
    Get his money they were bent
    But old Tracy shot their nose off
    They couldn’t get a scent
    The sheriffs they shot Harry
    In the back that afternoon
    They shot him in the back of a saloon

Chorus
Oh You Harry, Harry Tracy, Harry Tracy
To buy a drink he’d never spend a sue
He would just let out a roar
Then faint on the bar room floor
And, of course, you know
They’d always bring him two

  1. While riding on a train one day
    Across the river Mink
    The passenger got frightened
    Yelled, “The bridge is going to sink”
    Did Tracy get excited?
    Not a word did he exclaim
    He drew his gun and then held up the train

Chorus
Oh You Harry, Harry Tracy, Harry Tracy
Hold up a train? Well, I should say yes
He’d almost go insane
Every time he saw a train
That’s if the train was on a lady’s dress