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From WWR

Trivia, story behind the song, etc.

Songwriter

Words and music by Kiya Heartwood (© 2000 Outlaw Hill Music)

History

Lyrics

I found the ghost of Will Harbut on the Huffman Mill Rd

He said, "I'm looking for Big Red, tell me where did he go?

Where's Mr. Riddle and the Faraway Barns?"

I said, "I'm sorry Mr. Harbut, I think they've all gone.

They moved all your bones to the outskirts of town

And the farm is a housing development now"

He sat right down with his hat in his hand

"Can you explain this, I can't understand"

I choked on the words

I felt a great shame

They're selling the Bluegrass

The fences are black

The old days are gone

And they ain't coming back

I showed him the airport

I showed him downtown

That Keeneland was using a loudspeaker now

We tried to see horses but couldn't find one

When we drove Man O War Boulevard around Lexington

Then he asked me to take him to the Horse Park to see

Where the bones of Man O War and Will Harbut lie buried

In '47 when Man O War died

The funeral was broadcast nationwide

Presidents, Lords and grown women cried

A casket lined with his colors, there were nine eulogies

For the greatest racehorse ever raised in Kentucky

He won 20 races in 21 starts

One loss to a horse called Upset caused by a bad start

He carried as much as 138 pounds

No horse alive would have to carry that now

I first came to his gravesite when I was a child

I remember white fences running for miles

I watched the foals racing around just for fun

And thought of the races the red stallion had won

We sat there in silence until the sunrise

As he started to fade he gave me a smile

Bring me three red roses to lay on my grave

One for my horses

One for my pride

One for a great way of life that has died

Now you men who have sold out the Bluegrass for greed

With your Growth is Good stickers and your big companies

May you spend your life driving around and around

Those cookie cutter houses you've made of this town

May you hear on your deathbed the Faraway bell

And may the ghost of Will Harbut lead you to Hell

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