Unbridled Reins

There lived an old horse trainer - who used to work for the man
Who owned about 25 stables - on 25 pieces of land
Whose name was Mr. Hardy - the trainer’s name was Gus
Hardy’s business was racing - and he owned the 2 of us

Gus, he hated racing - it was the horses that he loved
Every time Mr. Hardy would come around - he’d pretend like he was being tough
He called him Heartless Hardy - cussed him underneath his breath
For the breeding of the horses - and the running them to death

My father, he was famous - he won the Triple Crown
Mama won 5 ribbons - at a horse show back in town
I sold for a million - on the day I was born
I was going to be a champion - Mr. Hardy was sure

Well, they pumped me up one morning - with something the officials would never detect
I remember that cold steel needle - spending a lifetime in my neck
I never knew that race was fixed - only that I was supposed to win
The jockey was tall in his saddle - his breath was stinking of gin

He pushed me a little bit too hard - I stumbled & I shattered my leg
Mr. Hardy called in a specialist - who said I’d never race again
He said my promise, it was broken - Mr. Hardy, sipping on champagne...
Ordered me out of my misery - but I was too numb to feel any pain

My father, he was famous - he won the Triple Crown
Mama won 5 ribbons - at a horse show back in town
I sold for a million - on the day I was born
I was going to be a champion - Mr. Hardy was sure

They led me out to the stables - where that mercy killing would be done
I was thinking about what might’ve been - & all that I might’ve won
Thinking about being put out to pasture - when my time might’ve finally come
And remembering how before I could walk, they were teaching me how to run

I saw they were going to shoot me - I don’t know why they would
I couldn’t run any more races - so I guess that made me no good
Mr. Hardy handed Gus the rifle - Gus, he cried & he stroked my mane
That was the last thing I remember - before Gus unbridled my reins

My father, he was famous - he won the Triple Crown
Mama won 5 ribbons - at a horse show back in town
I sold for a million - on the day I was born
I was going to be a champion - Mr. Hardy was sure