Verse 1 Carlos counted miles by fence posts and scars Chico watched the sun crack open the stars Left Marfa at dawn with a laugh and a plan Now the dust tastes dry as a dead man’s hand Verse 2 Saddlebags heavy with regret and rye Not a drop of water, not a cloud in the sky Horses breathing hard, hear the leather creak Lord, we packed our courage but forgot to think Chorus (Jody J harmony comes in) No water in the saddle, no mercy in the heat Praying for a river, settling for the beat Of hooves on caliche and a bottle passed around We’re more scared of sober than dying on this ground Verse 3 Whiskey burns kinder than the West Texas sun Carlos says, “Brother, we ain’t done ‘til we’re done” Chico laughs low, spits dust in the sand Says luck don’t leave slow, it slips from your hand (brief whistle break) Chorus (Jody J stronger harmony) No water in the saddle, no shade on the trail Midland’s just a promise written pale If this run’s our last, let it find us friends With dry throats singing ‘til the bitter end Bridge We’ve ridden this road since our hair was black Now the years sit heavy in the creases of our backs If fate’s got a price, we already paid Just don’t let the whiskey be the first thing to fade Final Chorus (Jody J full harmony) No water in the saddle, but the bottle’s still alive Raise it to the miles we somehow survived If luck’s run out somewhere between then and now Let it find us laughing, reins loose somehow Outro If Midland’s a mirage, we’ll ride it anyhow Drew will get his horses and what’s left of or whiskey
