He preached up
Fire and Brimstone,
an eternity black as coal,
so Borax Charlie got religion
fearing for his soul.
Down on his knees
a prayin’,
he made a promise then and there
he’d jerk them mules with tender words
at them no more he’d swear.
The new day dawned,
clear and bright
Borax Charlie hooked up his span,
a great gawking crowd had gathered round
to witness the new saved man.
Borax Charlie mounted the wheeler
the jerk line in his hand,
clucked to them mules
Nice and sweet,
every word was bland.
The mules
looked back at Charlie,
every head turned as one,
they couldn’t believe or understand
the honey from his tongue.
They stood stone still
in stark disbelief
at the torrent of meaningless sound,
the crowd in stunned silence stood,
not a wagon wheel turned round.