Lyrics

The Ballad of Pogue and Elms
Brenn Hill (Red Cliffs Press Music/BMI)
Scott Bragonier (Ox Yoke C Music/ASCAP)

My name is Conley Elms
I died in 1981
Gunned down in cold blood
By an outlaw on the run

On a cold grey afternoon
I felt that bitter chill
By the banks of the Owyhee
And my soul it lives there still

My partner William Pogue
He fell that day with me
A strait and honest lawman
As fair as he could be

His good name put on trial
We watched in disbelief
As the system we relied on
Set a killer all but free

CHORUS
But for every freedom comes
An even greater cost
The answers seldom easy
The questions sometimes lost

And though our lives were shortened
Our work was not in vain
Given one more chance
I’d wear that badge again

Now many years gone by
Our families carry on
Though our lives were lost
Our legacy grows strong

And every man must answer
For the things that he has done
We find our peace in knowing
That the judgment day shall come

Conviction forged in campfires
The work we live and breath
Let the burden be to those who reach further on than me

From the Owyhees to the Sawtooths
Let the Boise run its miles
And let our memories stand
For all that there lives wild

CHORUS
But for every freedom comes
An even greater cost
The answers seldom easy
The questions sometimes lost

And though our lives were shortened
Our work was not in vain
Given one more chance
I’d wear that badge again