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"The Stampede" (sometimes simply "Stampede") is a song by The Residents, based on the traditional cowboy ballad of the same name.[1] It is best known for being featured in their live show Cube-E , which toured internationally between 1989 and 1990.
In Cube-E, the song is featured in the show's first suite, "Buckaroo Blues". An early studio version of the song, likely recorded in 1988, was released in January 1989 as a part of the UWEB exclusive album "Buckaroo Blues". Its first live debut was at The Residents The Boudisque 20th Anniversary Party where it was played as the shows 3rd song. It was also filmed as part of the tele-5 performance.
The song itself, due to its length, has quite a beautiful performance, featuring the most storytelling of any song in the suite. With the lyrics having a clear beginning, middle and end, The Residents decided to have the dancers represent the lyrics of the song almost to a tee with a girl handing a cowboy a "curly lock of golden hair" during the tele-performance found on the Cube-E (Box set) DVD.
The song has since made a appearance in The Residents' live shows since Cube-E; in 2023 it was featured alongside "Theme From Buckaroo Blues" in their 50th anniversary tour "Faceless Forever". The song was notably absent form the 50th Anniversary Secret Show.
Lyrics[]
Live Cube-E version[]
When the hot sun sets and the evenin' gets Calm and quiet on the trail.
And the cattle move as their dusty hooves Pound the ground beneath their tail.
No one seems to care if a cowpoke stares And he feels he's all alone
So we drove that herd with just a few choice words On that night so long ago.
Way on up ahead rode Ol' Texas Red A red bandanna on his face.
With his cold gray eyes he searched the northern skies, A ridin' with an easy grace.
On the left was Joe on his old pinto, And Jim Smith was on his right
As for the other eight, well, they were not so great, But we needed `em all that night.
When so to soothe our thirst we had done the worst And rode up to a nester's well
With our six guns out and without a doubt The nester would defend himself.
Out he quickly came and we all took aim. A silver blade was in his hand.
Red pulled out his knife to take the nester's life Standin' by him, man to man.
Then all at once appeared with no sign of fear. A girl that boldly changed our plans
She walked right up to Red and shook her golden head And took the knife right from his hand.
Then she quickly cut the tension in our guts With a smile that burned like a brand.
Then that demon girl cut off a golden curl And left it in Red's outstretched hand.
From the north black clouds that looked like funeral shrouds Rolled in with an icy breath.
So we faced a fight on that stormy night With odds upon the side of death.
In the ghostly hush that fell before the rush Came down upon us like a flood
Not a word was spoken as the thunder broke Our spurs dug in `til they drew blood.
So we watched that herd become a mob that blurred And grew into a raging thang.
Then they turned their tail right back down that trail Stampeding from the Norther's stang
Some say that there is beauty in the sound that suits The purity of mindless panic
But all that we could see were tons of mindless meat were Headed for that nester's shack
Death was now at stake so we had to break The rhythm of the raging herd.
Then as the lightning flashed we saw a rider pass A ghostly shape with shining spurs.
It was Texas Red who pulled on out ahead, And grabbed the girl with hair of gold.
But then we couldn't see because his horse's knee Buckled as he hit a hole.
There we found the two where the north wind blew Golden hair across his chest.
And her fingers dug into his arms 'til blood Had made a pool beside her dress.
On the trail they lay at the break of day. As we stood around and stared
At their lips still touchin' and Ol' Red still clutchin' A curly lock of golden hair.[1]
"The Stampede" (traditional)[]
When the hot sun smiles on the endless miles That lead to the distant mart, And the cattle wail down the well-worn trail, And moan till it grips the heart, And they gasp for air in the dust clouds there, As they jostle their way along
With uplifted ear so that they may hear The cow-puncher's evening song. Far up at the head rode old Texas Red A man of determined face And his keen gray eye took in earth and sky As he rode with a centaur's grace. On the left was Joe on his white pinto; Jim Smith patrolled on the right.
And the other tricks took an even six, And we needed them all that night. And to quench our thirst we had dared the worst And fought for a nester's well; But he had a girl with a witching curl, And she cast a golden spell.
So our shots went wide from the sinner's hide As he faded from our view, And the charming miss blew old Red a kiss And smiled as his pony flew. 'Twas a pretty play, but he spurred away, His face like a prairie blaze. And he hit the dirt as he plied his quirt Till lost in the friendly haze, While the bawling shrilled as the cattle milled, And their eyes grew shot with fear- For they knew right well that a merry hell Lurked in the gathering smear.
In the north black clouds like funeral shrouds Rolled down with an icy breath, And we faced a fight on a brutal night With odds on the side of death; For a trailing herd when it's rightly stirred Is a thing for a man to shun, And no coward band ever holds command When the norther's on the run.
In the ghostly hush that precedes the rush Of the wild wind-driven flood, We made our dash to the thunder's crash, Spurs set till they drew the blood; But the Storm King struck to our bitter luck, We rode in the lightning's glare, And the north wind whirled through a watery world, And laughed at our puny dare.
Then the cattle swerved as a mob unnerved And shrank from a raging thing, And they drifted back on the beaten track, Tail to the norther's sting. We fought like men, but `twas useless then They plunged down the backward track. Theirs a single creed`twas the dread stampede Straight at the nester's shack ! There was death at stake, and `twas make or break In the rush of that frenzied mob; But we'd risked our lives in a hundred drives, And we figured to know our job.
Then a sudden hail on the whistling gale And a horse went slithering by `Twas old Texas Red, and we knew he sped To the girl of the flashing eye.
With a wicked grip on his biting whip, He smoked down on the heaving ranks, And his searching eye set to do or die As he fanned at his pony's flanks; And we gazed aghast when we saw at last Old Tex at the head of the ruck, And we made a prayer for the rider there, Just a wish for a hero's luck.
Straight she stood and still, at the storm's wild will, Close by the nester's well, And her eyes were kissed by the driving mist As she faced that living hell, But when Texas Red, `crost his pony's head, Erect in his stirrups rose, Like a sprite she sprung to his shoulder clung A rod from the leader's nose. `Twas a gallant race, but he held his pace As he edged to the leeward side.
Not a moment's slip of his strong arm's grip, As he led that bawling tide; And his noble steed, knowing well the need, Gave of his stout heart's best, And he brought them free from that maddened spree, And slidin the mud to rest. Yes, we found the two where the north wind blew, Her black hair across his breast; In his arms she clung as his big heart sung Under his calfskin vest.
And the lucky brute made us each salute, And she kissed us one by one, And we all went wild till old Tex got riled And threatened to pull a gun. On the trail we lay at the break of day, Deep in the Texas mud Dog-tired we dragged as the cattle lagged, Cooling their racing blood; `Twas a weary trek to the river's neck, And we longed for the scorching sun, And we drank Red's luck as we downed our chuck, And we sang for the night was done ![1]
List of releases[]
- Buckaroo Blues (1989) [Version 1]
- Buckaroo Blues & Black Barry (1989) [Version 2]
- Cube-E - Live In Holland (1990) [Version 3]
- In Memoriam Torso (1994) [Version 3]
- Cube-E (2006) [Version 4] [Version 5]
- CUBE E Dynasone 3EZ (2011) [Version 1]
- Cube-E Box (2020) [Version 3] [Version 4] [Version 6]
- The Residents are Faceless! (2024) [Version 7]