Song Lyrics

I've been riding all day long
Through the wall of rain
In the shadow of the mountains
On the barren plains
To my angel in the village
Where a lamplight glows
If the dogs there don't betray me
No one will know

In the city of the soldier, in the time of war
There I met my Angelina, I was 24
We made arrangements soon thereafter
Wedding plans were drawn
Just beyond the sound of laughter
Cannons thundered on
When I enlisted in the Army, Angelina cried
I whispered to her, "Don't you worry
God is on our side."
On the battlegrounds before me
His plan was soon revealed
He guided me to fame and glory
On the battlefield

Oh ooh the raven flies
Oh ooh the coyote cries

Juan Miguel Ramos Montoya led his rebels well
We fought them through the emerald valley
To the sacred hill
In the end we were defeated, I was left for dead
Juan Montoya took our city, Angelina fled

I took to hiding in the mountains, through the wintertime
In the spring I rode to safety across the borderline
I sent word to Angelina, soon I will return
With the full moon in the window, let your lamplight burn

From the bluff above her village
My hope has turned to fright
Only darkness in the windows
Not a single light
I cursed my God and shook my angry
Fists at Him above
Twice forsaken, once in war
And now in love

I've been riding all day long
Through the wall of rain
In the shadow of the mountains
On the barren plains
To my angel in the village
Where a lamplight glows
If the dogs there don't betray me
No one will know

I ran in rage toward the chapel
Stricken by my loss
I vowed to leave my lifeless body
Upon His Holy Cross
But at the altat of the chapel
A lonely candle shown
Across the face of Angelina
Kneeling all alone

Robert Earl Keen

The duration of The Raven and the Coyote is 5:12 minutes and seconds.