The first time I saw him, I was five years old
And he put me upon his knee and I remember every story that he told
He rode his pony across the land
He said it made him a better man
Ran for the future, ran from his past
He knew his life here wasn't gonna last
They were gonna find him, put him in jail
They were gonna hang him, send him straight to hell
One thing he told me before he died
I remember each and every night to
Run fast, run free
Cause you'll no longer be with me
And when I see you on the other side
Please tell me all you did was ride
Then I watched them lead him on the stand
As they tied ropes around his hands
He didn't struggle, there was no sound
It was just his body, falling on the ground
Last thing I remember, look on his face
And I prayed, he was in a better place
Now I take to heart his wise advice
I remember each and every night to
Run fast, run free
Cause you'll no longer be with me
When I see you on the other side
Please tell me all you did was ride
I stand along the Rio Grande
Water's rushing at my feet
And I look across the foreign land
That's where I need to be
I float along the Rio Grande
I let that water carry me
And I look across the foreign land
It's where this ride has taken me
And I stand along the Rio Grande
Water's rushing at my feet
And I'm ready, pistol in my hand
They're never gonna catch me, yeah yeah yeah
Run fast, run free
Cause you'll no longer be with me
And when I see you on the other side
Please tell me all you did was ride
When I see you on the other side
Please tell me all you did was ride