The Horseless Headman

 

When a good story gets told, it changes just a little each telling,
Eventually, it is no longer recognizable and much less compelling.
This poem demonstrates how a good story can be lost forever.
By just changing a couple of word prefixes mixing them together.

 

 

 

The Horseless Headman

 

I’ll tell you a tale that you may not believe ever could be true,
About this giant of a man who was the head of our Texas Ranger crew.
He proudly wore the big silver star of justice right on his chest.
With his Colt Revolver his aim was really the best of the best.

 

The original version of the story.

 

 

The Headman Ranger’s name was Big Bill of Hutchinson County.
He started his career up north as a special Canadian Mounty,
But the cold weather had driven him south to the Texas Plains.
Where the antelope and Buffalo roam the tall grass that remains.

 

 

We were riding the range looking for an outlaw called Joe Dalton
When we came upon this young man called John Boy Walton,
He said Joe rode by two days ago moving fast towards Mexico.
We picked up his trail with Headman Big Bill leading the show.

 

 

After two days riding, we could see Joe Dalton ahead on the trail.
He was moseying along thinking he was in the clear from the law.
Big Bill pulled his Winchester rifle out and rode to a nearby hill,
Getting a bead on Joe atop his horse, he could see Joe still.

 

 

Joe had spotted him and was aiming back at Bill with his rifle.
They fired at the same time and Joe was hit hard and was stifled.
Joes bullet struck Headman Bill’s horse and killed him fast,
And Bill became the famous “Horseless Headman” at last.

 

 

Many stories were told about the Horseless Headman’s Courage.
The story was told so many times it became mixed up like porridge,
And eventually was changed to the Headless Horseman tale,
So now you know the true origin of that old story without fail.
By Bill

 

 

The distorted version of the story

 

 

 

Thanks for reading The Horseless Headmam,

Bill