C                              G7        C 
You look at the picture with a wondering eye 
 
                             G7            C 
And then at the arrow that's hanging close by 
 
                    F             C 
Say tell a story as there's one I know 
 
                             G7         C 
Of a horse I once owned down in New Mexico 
 
                                G7         C 
He was swift as an antelope and black as a crow 
 
                               G7           C 
With a star on his forehead as white as the snow 
 
                                F            C 
His arched neck was hidden by a long flowing mane 
 
                                G7           C 
And they called him Patanio the pride of the plains  
 
                             G7            C 
The country was new then the settlers were scarce 
 
                                G7         C 
The Indians on the warpath were savage and fierce 
 
                          F            C 
Scouts were sent out everyday from the post 
 
                               G7             C 
But they never came back so we knew they were lost 
 
                         G7           C 
One day the Captain said someone must go 
 
                       G7         C 
For help to the border of New Mexico 
 
                               F            C 
A dozen brave fellows straight way answered here 
 
                                G7            C 
But the Captain he spied me and said son come here 
 
                      G7         C 
Patanio beside me his nose in my hand 
 
                                   G7          C 
Said the captain your horse is the best in the land 
 
                                     F            C 
You're good for this ride you're the lightest man here 
 
                            G7                C 
On the back of that mustang you've nothing to fear 
 
                          G7             C 
I'm proud of my horse sir I answered you know 
 
                       G7         C 
Patanio and I are both willing to go 
 
                          F             C 
They all shook my hand as I mounted the black 
 
                           G7           C 
Patanio sped forward and I gave him his slack 
 
                               G7             C 
For eighty long miles over the plains we must go 
 
                       G7         C 
For help to the border of New Mexico 
 
                            F              C 
The black struck a trot and he kept it all night 
 
                          G7           C 
Till just as the east was beginning to light 
 
                               G7            C 
When back from behind me there came a fierce yell 
 
                               G7         C 
We knew that the redskins were hot on our trail 
 
                          F            C 
I rose up and jingled the bells on his rein 
 
                                 G7              C 
And I stoked his neck softly and I called him by name 
 
                            G7          C 
He answered my touch with a toss of his head 
 
                              G7           C 
And his black body lengthened as onward he sped 
 
                         F               C 
The arrows fell round me like showers of rain 
 
                         G7           C 
When in my left leg oh I felt a sharp pain 
 
                               G7        C 
The red blood was flowing from Patanio's side 
 
                                G7       C 
But he never once shortened his powerful stride 
 
                      F           C 
Patanio poor fellow I knew he was hurt 
 
                           G7            C 
But still he dashed onward and on to the fort 
 
                         G7          C 
By good care Patanio and I were soon well 
 
                                 G7          C 
Of his death long years after it hurts me to tell 
 
                               F             C 
They write songs about him the cowboys still sing 
 
                           G7           C 
The legend lives on of his long flowing mane 
 
                          G7           C 
So look at the arrow that hangs on the wall 
 
                                G7          C 
It was shot through my leg boot stirrup and all 
 
                         F               C 
On many fine horses I've since drawn the reins 
 
                          G7           C 
But none like Patanio the pride of the plains