he rode to the western sun
bound back to where he'd begun

straight off the ground
loud popping sound
in the setting evening sun

half red like a burst balloon
up rose the laredo moon

frozen and round
soft hissing sound
and he cried as it rose
cried to the ghost
of the setting evening sun

"let me go if you already know
you don't want me around anymore
take this heart - it has fallen apart
i can't see a thing worth fighting for"

he said his goodbyes alone
stretched out with the old mule bones

so the orphan named hayes
met the end of his days
while the soldier named love
on a hill high above
rode into the setting sun