[Intro – Quiet] They say she rode into the night. Some say she ran. Some say she stayed. Some say the fire took her. But every few years… Somebody swears they saw her again. [Verse 1] From a cage of pine to the open sky From a frightened girl who was scared to try From a lover's hand to an iron door I've walked through hell and I've walked through more I've worn the chains, I've carried the blame I've lost my love and I've cursed his name I've slept in the dust, I've slept in the rain And every scar taught me freedom again Now I stand where the four roads meet Black mare stamping beneath my feet Smoke on the horizon, thunder in the air A hundred riders coming from somewhere [Pre-Chorus] They've come for Wildflower They've come for the Queen But they don't know the woman That lives underneath the dream [Chorus] They know my name from the mountains to the sea Outlaw Queen of the Road — that's me Let the banjo ring and let the fiddle cry Let the whole damned world hear the Wildflower ride No crown on my head No chain on my soul No man beside me And nobody owns me whole I'm wild as the wind I'm fierce as the flame And if you came looking for me… Remember my name. [Verse 2] The poor know my face and the children know mine I've left bread at the door and silver behind I've carried the sick when the winter came hard And slept beside strangers beneath a broken barn They call me a devil, they call me a thief They call me a murderer, outlaw and beast But every old mother who lights up her stove Knows who brought flour when the winter winds blow So let them come riding, let them come armed I've spent my whole life refusing to be harmed [Chorus] They know my name from the mountains to the sea Outlaw Queen of the Road — that's me Let the banjo ring and let the fiddle cry Let the whole damned world hear the Wildflower ride No crown on my head No chain on my soul No man beside me And nobody owns me whole I'm wild as the wind I'm fierce as the flame And if you came looking for me… Remember my name. [Verse 3 – The Final Night] The riders came at midnight, twenty guns or more Surrounded the camp and blocked every door The children were crying, the horses were wild And I saw every face of the frightened and mild I shouted, “Take the north road! Don't wait for me!” And the wagons disappeared beyond the trees I stayed by the fire With my rifle held low Watching every lantern Moving to and fro One old friend said, “Girl, it's time to run.” I smiled and answered: “I've been running all my life. Tonight they run from me.” [Bridge – Explosive] The first shot cracked And the whole night burned The horses screamed And the black sky turned Fiddle like thunder Banjo like steel Drums like a heartbeat You could feel They came for a woman They found a flame They came for Wildflower… And remembered her name. [Breakdown] Ride! Ride, Wildflower, ride! Ride! Through the smoke and fire! Ride! Don't let them take your name! Ride! Don't let them take your freedom! [Verse 4 – Dawn] At dawn there was nothing But ashes and rain A broken old saddle A burned wooden frame No body was found there No blood on the ground Just hoofprints disappearing Where the mountains rolled down They searched every valley They searched every town They offered a fortune To bring Wildflower down But an old woman laughed When they asked where she'd gone: “She was never yours to catch, boys. She's been gone since dawn.” [Final Chorus – Huge] They know my name from the mountains to the sea Outlaw Queen of the Road — that's me Let the banjo ring and let the fiddle cry Let the whole damned world hear the Wildflower ride No crown on my head No grave for my soul No stone in the churchyard Can tell where I go I'm wild as the wind I'm fierce as the flame And if you tell my story… Remember my name! Outlaw Queen! Wildflower! Queen of the Road! [Final Bridge – Full Circle] From the cage of pine To the open road From the little girl To the woman she chose They told her, “Bow.” She stood. “Stay.” She rode. “Be ours.” She said: “I am my own.” [Final Chorus] I am the Wildflower! I am the flame! I am the woman who reclaimed her name! I am the road! I am the sky! I am the reason the wild don't die! No crown! No master! No chains! No throne! Outlaw Queen of the Road — I belong to no one! [Outro – Fading] The fiddle plays the melody from *Cage of Pine.* One final banjo roll. One heavy stomp. Hoofbeats fade into the distance. A distant voice: Did she die?” Another voice: “Nobody knows.” A pause. “Then how do you know she was ever here?” The old woman smiles. “Because every now and then…” “…you can still hear her ride.”
