Chapter 3: There and Back

Ron Ferguson

Conor Ames

Ron Ferguson

ballad, corrido, Southwestern

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[CHAPTER 3 — BRISK WESTERN TRAIL BALLAD — 118 BPM — G MAJOR]
[LOW MALE BARITONE NARRATOR — WARM, WRY, RELAXED]
[ACOUSTIC RHYTHM GUITAR — UPRIGHT BASS — BRUSHED SNARE — FIDDLE]
[LIGHT HARMONICA — OCCASIONAL SPANISH GUITAR]
[THIRD PERSON — IDENTIFY EVERY SPEAKER]
[KEEP IT LIGHT — NO OMINOUS FORESHADOWING]
[INTRO — 4 BARS]
[BRIGHT ACOUSTIC GUITAR — FIDDLE PICKUP]
[VERSE 1]
Morning found the Baggs place peaceful,
Not a Serrano left in sight;
Every plate was washed and stacked up,
Every chair was set just right.
Billy checked the ham and biscuits,
Counted bottles, checked the rye,
Then congratulated Billy
For remembering how to say goodbye.
[VERSE 2]
There was coffee in the kitchen,
There were eggs still in the pan,
And a folded note from Gideon
Propped against the coffee can.
Grey had written, "Dearest Billy,
Since adventure's not your style,
The outfit rides at seven-thirty.
Don't pursue us for a while."
[SHORT FIDDLE TURN]
[VERSE 3]
Billy read the note twice over,
Then discovered underneath:
"P.S. Torren doubts your talents.
I defended you at length."
Billy muttered, "Grey, you bastard,"
Pulled his boots on where he stood;
He would catch that lying swindler
Just to set the story good.
[CHORUS]
Billy Baggs was not adventuring,
Billy Baggs was going west
Just to straighten out a falsehood,
Then come home and get some rest.
He was not pursuing treasure,
He had no heroic plan—
He was only going riding
Just to talk to one old man.
[FIDDLE + HARMONICA BREAK — 4 BARS]
[VERSE 4]
Billy saddled up his pony,
Hit the road at half past eight;
Left his breakfast on the table,
Left his good hat by the gate.
Left his coat and left his money,
Left his bedroll on the chair;
Half a mile beyond the hedges,
Billy noticed none were there.
[VERSE 5]
By ten o'clock he'd found the wagon,
By eleven found the crew;
Gideon saw him from a distance,
Told old Torren, "There. I knew."
Torren asked him, "Knew what, Grey?"
Grey replied, "He'd change his mind."
Billy rode up red and breathless,
With some language close behind.
[INSTRUMENTAL STOP]
[VERSE 6 — DIALOGUE]
Billy told Grey, "I'm not coming."
Gideon answered, "Glad you're here."
Billy said, "I'm going homeward."
Grey replied, "Of course, my dear."
Torren asked him, "Why'd you follow?"
Billy pointed straight at Grey:
"Because that fraud has told you stories
I've been riding here to slay."
[LIGHT BAND PICKUP]
[VERSE 7]
Gideon nodded toward the eastward,
Said, "Then home is back that way."
Billy turned his pony eastward—
But his pony chose to stay.
Billy kicked and Billy pleaded,
Still the stubborn creature stood;
Kit rode past and told him laughing,
"Seems your horse thinks west looks good."
[CHORUS]
Billy Baggs was not adventuring,
Billy Baggs was going home;
He had crops that needed tending,
He had no desire to roam.
He was not pursuing treasure,
He had made that very plain—
Then the outfit started westward,
And his pony joined the train.
[INSTRUMENTAL — FIDDLE LEADS]
[SPANISH GUITAR ANSWERS]
[VERSE 8]
At the noon stop Abel fed him,
Wade produced a battered hat;
Finn loaned Billy half a blanket,
Kit found humor after that.
Torren handed him a canteen,
Said, "Return it when you're through."
Billy said, "I'm leaving shortly."
Torren answered, "Sure you do."
[VERSE 9]
By the evening they were farther
Than he'd ever been before;
Greenvale lay beyond horizon,
Supper waited by his door.
Billy sat beside the firelight,
Eating beans from Gideon's pan;
Still explaining to the Serranos
He was not a travelling man.
[BRIDGE — EASY CAMPFIRE FEEL]
Gideon passed his medicinal,
Billy smelled it, shook his head;
Gideon told him, "Helps with travel."
Billy said, "It raises dead."
Abel tried a cautious swallow,
Coughed and stared into the flame;
Gideon took the bottle from him,
Said, "You have to build up to the same."
[FINAL CHORUS — WARM MALE HARMONY]
Billy Baggs was not adventuring,
That was settled, that was that;
Though he'd travelled twenty-seven miles
And wore another fellow's hat.
He would turn around tomorrow,
He repeated by the fire—
While the trail ran west before him
And the sparks climbed ever higher.
[FINAL INSTRUMENTAL — 8 BARS]
[FIDDLE + NYLON GUITAR TRADING PHRASES]
[HARMONICA JOINS]
[UPBEAT FULL-BAND CADENCE]
[HARD END — NO VOCALS AFTER CADENCE]
[NO WHISPER — NO FADE]

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[CHAPTER 3 — BRISK WESTERN TRAIL BALLAD — 118 BPM — G MAJOR] [LOW MALE BARITONE NARRATOR — WARM, WRY, RELAXED] [ACOUSTIC RHYTHM GUITAR — UPRIGHT BASS — BRUSHED SNARE — FIDDLE] [LIGHT HARMONICA — OCCASIONAL SPANISH GUITAR] [THIRD PERSON — IDENTIFY EVERY SPEAKER] [KEEP IT LIGHT — NO OMINOUS FORESHADOWING] [INTRO — 4 BARS] [BRIGHT ACOUSTIC GUITAR — FIDDLE PICKUP] [VERSE 1] Morning found the Baggs place peaceful, Not a Serrano left in sight; Every plate was washed and stacked up, Every chair was set just right. Billy checked the ham and biscuits, Counted bottles, checked the rye, Then congratulated Billy For remembering how to say goodbye. [VERSE 2] There was coffee in the kitchen, There were eggs still in the pan, And a folded note from Gideon Propped against the coffee can. Grey had written, "Dearest Billy, Since adventure's not your style, The outfit rides at seven-thirty. Don't pursue us for a while." [SHORT FIDDLE TURN] [VERSE 3] Billy read the note twice over, Then discovered underneath: "P.S. Torren doubts your talents. I defended you at length." Billy muttered, "Grey, you bastard," Pulled his boots on where he stood; He would catch that lying swindler Just to set the story good. [CHORUS] Billy Baggs was not adventuring, Billy Baggs was going west Just to straighten out a falsehood, Then come home and get some rest. He was not pursuing treasure, He had no heroic plan— He was only going riding Just to talk to one old man. [FIDDLE + HARMONICA BREAK — 4 BARS] [VERSE 4] Billy saddled up his pony, Hit the road at half past eight; Left his breakfast on the table, Left his good hat by the gate. Left his coat and left his money, Left his bedroll on the chair; Half a mile beyond the hedges, Billy noticed none were there. [VERSE 5] By ten o'clock he'd found the wagon, By eleven found the crew; Gideon saw him from a distance, Told old Torren, "There. I knew." Torren asked him, "Knew what, Grey?" Grey replied, "He'd change his mind." Billy rode up red and breathless, With some language close behind. [INSTRUMENTAL STOP] [VERSE 6 — DIALOGUE] Billy told Grey, "I'm not coming." Gideon answered, "Glad you're here." Billy said, "I'm going homeward." Grey replied, "Of course, my dear." Torren asked him, "Why'd you follow?" Billy pointed straight at Grey: "Because that fraud has told you stories I've been riding here to slay." [LIGHT BAND PICKUP] [VERSE 7] Gideon nodded toward the eastward, Said, "Then home is back that way." Billy turned his pony eastward— But his pony chose to stay. Billy kicked and Billy pleaded, Still the stubborn creature stood; Kit rode past and told him laughing, "Seems your horse thinks west looks good." [CHORUS] Billy Baggs was not adventuring, Billy Baggs was going home; He had crops that needed tending, He had no desire to roam. He was not pursuing treasure, He had made that very plain— Then the outfit started westward, And his pony joined the train. [INSTRUMENTAL — FIDDLE LEADS] [SPANISH GUITAR ANSWERS] [VERSE 8] At the noon stop Abel fed him, Wade produced a battered hat; Finn loaned Billy half a blanket, Kit found humor after that. Torren handed him a canteen, Said, "Return it when you're through." Billy said, "I'm leaving shortly." Torren answered, "Sure you do." [VERSE 9] By the evening they were farther Than he'd ever been before; Greenvale lay beyond horizon, Supper waited by his door. Billy sat beside the firelight, Eating beans from Gideon's pan; Still explaining to the Serranos He was not a travelling man. [BRIDGE — EASY CAMPFIRE FEEL] Gideon passed his medicinal, Billy smelled it, shook his head; Gideon told him, "Helps with travel." Billy said, "It raises dead." Abel tried a cautious swallow, Coughed and stared into the flame; Gideon took the bottle from him, Said, "You have to build up to the same." [FINAL CHORUS — WARM MALE HARMONY] Billy Baggs was not adventuring, That was settled, that was that; Though he'd travelled twenty-seven miles And wore another fellow's hat. He would turn around tomorrow, He repeated by the fire— While the trail ran west before him And the sparks climbed ever higher. [FINAL INSTRUMENTAL — 8 BARS] [FIDDLE + NYLON GUITAR TRADING PHRASES] [HARMONICA JOINS] [UPBEAT FULL-BAND CADENCE] [HARD END — NO VOCALS AFTER CADENCE] [NO WHISPER — NO FADE]

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