Out in the West where the riders are ready
They sing an old song and they tell an old tale
Its moral is plain: Take it easy, go steady
While riding a horse on the Malibu Trail
It's a high, rocky trail with its switch-backs and doubles
It has no beginning and never an end
It's risky and rough and it's plumb full of troubles
From Shifty -- that's shale -- up to Powder Cut Bend
Old-timers will tell you the rangers who made it
Sang 'Roll A Rock Down,' with a stiff upper lip
And cussed all creation, but managed to grade it
With a thousand-foot drop if a pony should slip
Oh, the day it was wet and the sky it was cloudy
The trail was as slick as any oil-rigger's pants
When Ranger McCabe on his pony, Old Rowdy
Came ridin' where walkin' was takin' a chance
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
Go easy and steady and roll a rock down
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
When life throws you curves, you can roll a rock down
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
Go easy and steady and roll a rock down
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
When life throws you curves, you can roll a rock down
'Oh, Roll A Rock Down!' picks and shovels was clangin'
And Rowdy a-steppin' that careful and light
When the edge it gave way and McCabe was left hangin'
Clean over the rim--with no bottom in sight
I shook out a loop--bein' crowded for throwin'
I flipped a fair noose for a rope that was wet
It caught just as Mac lost his holt and was goin'
And burned through my fingers: it's burnin' them yet
For Ranger McCabe never knuckled to danger
My partner in camp, on the trail, or in town
And he slid into glory, a true forest ranger
With Hell! I'm a-goin'! Just roll a rock down
So, roll a rock down where a ranger is sleepin'
Aside of his horse below Powder Cut Bend
I ride and I look where the shadows are creepin'
And roll a rock down--for McCabe was my friend
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
Go easy and steady and roll a rock down
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
When life throws you curves, you can roll a rock down
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
Go easy and steady and roll a rock down
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
When life throws you curves, you can roll a rock down
I've sung you a song and I've told you my story
And all that I ask when I'm done with the show
I'll roll a rock down when I slide into glory
And say that I went like a ranger should go
Out in the West where the riders are ready
They sing an old song and they tell an old tale
Its moral is plain: Take it easy, go steady
While riding a horse on the Malibu Trail
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
Go easy and steady and roll a rock down
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
When life throws you curves, you can roll a rock down
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
Go easy and steady and roll a rock down
Roll a rock down, roll a rock down
When life throws you curves, you can roll a rock down
When life throws you curves, you can roll a rock down
When life throws you curves, you can roll a rock down

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