D             G            D        G 
My name is Tommy Luther, I'll soon be 84 
     D                 G              A 
I'll show you a little picture I keep tucked in this old drawer 
 

 
Refrão -------------
G         A           D                    Bm  
60 years ago, boys, I rode for the Diamond team 
D           G                  A               D 
Sailing by, eight feet high on horses quick as dreams
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Well I joined up with the races when they came through Alabam 
They had a good young rider, just a boy, named Sandy Graham 
We were two kids run away from home when the world was breaking down 
Didn't stay to see the family sell the farm and move to town  
 
From Detroit to Tijuana to Annapolis we rode 
They called us rookies "bug boys", we were just 16 years old 
We were worth a couple of saddles and two big bags of grain 
The big men owned the horses and they owned us just the same  
 
 
60 years ago, boys, I rode for the Diamond team 
Sailing by, eight feet high on horses quick as dreams  
 
Well it's Winnipeg and it's raining but the track's not looking bad 
They gave me Irish Princess, Sandy rode on Vesper Lad 
We were flying down the backstretch my horse was running proud 
I pulled ahead of Sandy when a roar came from the crowd  
 
I crouched as Irish Princess thundered across the line 
And then I stood and turned around to see that friend of mine 
Vesper Lad was standing still there must have been a fall 
And in the mud lay Sandy looking lifeless as a doll  
 
Well a crowd ran up to Sandy, they scooped him off the track 
They took him to the office with shattered ribs and back 
At the hospital next morning I sat by Sandy's side 
But the season would be ending soon and then I'd have to ride  
 
Mandolin 
 
Just a coupla days past Danville, word came down the line 
Sandy'd lost his struggle, we hung our heads and cried 
It was poor old Mother Harris from the boarding house in town 
Who paid for the little casket and layed him in the ground  
 
I sent a couple of dollars, it was all that I could save 
She drew me a little picture of the lonely rider's grave 
I've kept it in my bedroom drawer all these 60 years 
I still see that crumpled body now but I'm too old for tears  
 
 
My name is Tommy Luther, I'll soon be 84 
I'll show you a little picture I keep tucked in this old drawer 
 
 
Chorus 
 
 
Sailing by, eight feet high on horses quick as dreams