Billy Grey rode into Gantry, back in '83 There he did meet young Sarah McRae The wild rose of morning, that pale flower of dawning Herald of springtime in his young life that day.
Sarah she could not see the daylight of reality In her young eyes Billy bore not a flaw Knowing not her chosen one was a hired gun Wanted in Kansas City by the law.
Then one day a tall man came riding 'cross the badlands Lying to the North of New Mexico He was over her to say he was lookin' for Bill Grey A ruthless man and a dangerous outlaw.
Well, the deadly news came creepin' to Billy fast sleeping There in the Claredon bar and hotel He fled toward the old church, there on the outskirts Thinkin' he'd climb to that old steeple bell.
But a rifle ball came flying, face down he lay there dying There in the dust of the road where he fell Sara she ran to him just cursing the law man Accepting no reason knowin' he was killed.
Sarah lives in that same old white frame house Where she first met Billy some fifty years ago And wild rose of morning she's faded with the dawning For each day of sorrow the long years have sown.
And written on the stone where the dusty winds have long blown Eighteen words to a passing world say "True love knows no season, no rhyme nor no reason Justice is cold as the Cranger County clay."