I was six years old, my brother was ten

One July day came running in,

seen a ferris wheel at the edge of town

So, of course, we headed on down

Well it took us an hour to walk that far

Carrying our fortune in a Mason jar

It was all pretty sad, a cheap county fair

With a few old rides but there was ponies there

Well, the ponies stunk and the air was still

In that dusty circle behind the ferris wheel

This old guy smelling of smoke and rum

Swung me up and sat me down on one

Well I'd never rode a horse but I'd seen it done

Cowboy movies made it look like fun

This old man whispered a few soft words

It was the best advice I've ever heard

Chorus:

He said "Sit tall in the saddle, Hold your head up high

Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky

And live like you ain't afraid to die

And don't be scared, just enjoy your ride"

I went up a kid with shaking hands

And I came down a full grown man

It was like he'd cast some Voodoo spell

Things were different for me now, I could tell

'Cos whenever troubles come wandering in

His rhyme would pop in my head again

And somehow I rode through the needles and nails

Brambles and thorns that life entails

CHORUS

Well I know some day farther down the road

I'll come to the edge of the great unknown

There'll stand a black horse riderless

And I wonder if I'm ready for this

So I'll saddle him up and he'll switch his tail

And I'll tip my hat and bid fairwell

And lift my song into the air

That I learned at that dusty fair

"Sit tall in the saddle, Hold your head up high

Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky

And live like you ain't afraid to die

And don't be scared, just enjoy your ride"

Now don't be scared, just enjoy your ride