"The Ballad of William DuBois" genre: Country Blues
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	Not all the cowboys were white, regardless of what Hollywood used to say.
	CD: Colorado Horses   Label: Mexican Redhead Records Credits: lyrics and melody by Will Dudley
	Story Behind the Song This song was written after visiting Fort Griffin, Texas, west of Dallas and Ft. Worth. The intention is to honor the memories of the soldiers and cowboys of the 19th Century who fought for and settled a country that had little appreciation for their brave contributions. Lyrics My name is William DuBois, I'm black as a moonless night And if your history books don't tell you, every cowboy ain't snow white I grew up in the cotton fields of western Tenessee The master said he'd hang me before the federals set me free My course was clear as sunshine, I ran that very day They'll hang me if they catch me running, Hang me if I stay. I stole a boat near Memphis and I Crossed to Arkansas Traveling at night so to avoid the southern law Living on the open road just made me hard and mean I might have been an outlaw had the Lord not intervened. I met an old gray preacher man, He rode a piebald nag He said there's better days for blacks who'll fight Commanche for the flag So I joined the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Griffin on the plains And fought the wild Commanche in the government's good name The day the army let me go I took their good advice Rode north straight out of Texas in fear for my own life Up through Colorado, avoiding any towns For they set their dogs upon me if I dare to hang around Drifting thru Wyoming, I heard a rancher say If you show me honest work, I'll show you honest pay Lord knows, I didn't trust him, but I took him at his word And we went to branding cattle from a rangy longhorn herd. That was seven years ago, and I ain't left since then Although the winters here are bitter cold and I never seen such wind Still the men of the Double Diamond know just where I can be found If a calf is loose, let Willie know, he'll bring it back around. My name is William DuBois, I'm black as a moonless night. And if your history books don't tell you, every cowboy ain't snow white.

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