From a carny s how and a rod eo that sh ared a three-day stand
A c owboy met a f iery carny q ueen
In n ew spring nights a mid the lights of the p ainted c arny v an
They l aughed and loved and s hared short-lived d reams
But the ca rny show and the r odeo went their separat e ways
And the c arny season b loomed and soon moved o n
And I was born on a w inter morn to the d ark-eyed c arny q ueen
The t oo-late son of s omething that was g one
The b lack-sheep child that g rew up wild from the s eed the four winds s owed
Unwanted s on of i ce and fire an o rphan o f the r oad
I w as still a child when my m ama died of a c hill that c losed her e yes
So I was left to g row up on my o wn
Wi thout a name too w ild to tame. N o one c ared to t ry
So m ostly I was m ostly left a lone
In d ingy bars and c old boxcars h obo j ungle c amps
I jo ined the men who d rift from town to t own
The s urging flood of r estless blood f lowed ins ide my v eins
I'd n ever find the t ime to settle d own
The b lack sheep child that g rew up wild From the s eed the four winds s owed
Unwanted s on of i ce and fire An o rphan o f the r oad
In the m isty rain I c aught the train that s lowed down t hrough the t own
And I p ulled myself i nto the boxcar d oor
In a p assing light in the d eep gray night I s aw the s till dark f orm
Of an o ld man lying s ick upon the f loor
And he sa id "I tried to f ind her but they t old me t hat she'd d ied
And t hat she'd l eft an only son b ehind
And I tr ied to find him b ut I never did but I k now I could r est in p eace
If I c ould just s ee him once before I d ie
I fo und a match and I q uickly scratched it i nto a f licker and f lame
Then I held it cl ose and I gently raised his head
My m other sir" I s aid of her "I h ave her s ame dark e yes
He s miled a cowboy s mile and then was d ead
The b lack sheep child that g rew up wild From the s eed the four winds s owed
Unwanted s on of i ce and fire An o rphan o f the r oad
