S'when I's in old Fort Worth in eighteen and eighty-three Some old Mexican cowboy came steppin' up to me Sayin' "how are you, young fella, how would you like to go And to spend another season 'neath them hills of Mexico?" Well I had no employment, and back to him did say "It's according to your wages, according to your pay" He said, "I'll pay to you good wages, and often too, you know If you'll spend another season 'neath them hills of Mexico" Well I went up to that cowboy and I offered him my hand And he gave a string of horses so old they couldn't stand And I nearly starved to death, boys, and I mean to let you know That I never saved a dollar 'neath them hills of Mexico I sent up for my wages, on a steamboat I did go How them bells they did ring, those whistles they did blow How them bells they did ring, those whistles they did blow On that God-forsaken fortune 'neath them hills of Mexico