I was six years old, my brother was ten
That July day come runnin' in
Seen a ferris wheel at the edge of town
So of course, we headed on down

Well it took us an hour to walk that far
Carryin' our fortune in a Mason jar
Was all pretty sad a cheap county fair
With a few old rides
But there was ponies there

Well the ponies stunk and the air was still
That dusty circle behind the ferris wheel
This old guy smellin' of smoke and rum
Swung me up and set me down on one

Well I'd never rode a horse but I'd seen it done
Cowboy movies made it look like fun
This old man whispered a few soft words
The best advice I've ever heard

Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high
Keep your eyes fixed, where the trail meets the sky
And live like you ain't afraid to die
And don't be scared, just enjoy your ride

I went up a kid with shakin' hands
But I came down a full grown man
Just like he'd cast some voodoo spell
Things were different for me now I could tell

Cause when ever troubles came wanderin' in
His rhyme would pop in my head again
Somehow I rode through the needles and nails
Brambles and thorns that life entails

Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high
Keep your eyes fixed, where the trail meets the sky
And live like you ain't afraid to die
And don't be scared, just enjoy your ride

Well I know some day farther down the road
I'll come to the edge of the great unknown
The stand a black horse riderless
And I wondered if I'm ready for this

Well I'll saddle him up and he'll switch his tail
And I'll trip my hat and bid farewell
And I'll lift my song into the air
That I learned at that dusty fair

Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high
Keep your eyes fixed, where the trail meets the sky
And live like you ain't afraid to die
And don't be scared, just enjoy your ride

Now don't be scared, just enjoy your ride