Will Dudley: Music

I named him William because that's my name. I named him Dubois because the Double Diamond ranch mentioned in the song was once near Dubois, Wyoming. In the 1870's, Fort Griffin, Texas was home to the 10th US Cavalry, the "buffalo soldiers", all black units of the US Cavalry.

My name is William Dubois, I'm black as a moonless night. And if your history books don't tell you, every cowboy ain't snow white.
I grew up in the cottonfields of western Tennessee. The master said he'd hang me before the federals set me free. My course was clear as sunshine, I ran that very day. They'll hang me if they catch me, and they'll hang me if I stay. I stole a boat near Memphis, and crossed to Arkansas, traveling at night so to avoid the southern law. Living on the open roads just made me hard and mean. I might have been an outlaw, had the Lord not intervened. I met an old gray preacher man, he rode a piebald nag. He said "there's better days for blacks who'll fight Comanche for the flag". So I joined the buffalo soldiers, at Fort Griffin on the plains, and we fought the wild Comanche in the government's good name. On the day the army let me go, I took their good advice. I rode north straight out of Texas in fear for my own life. Up though Colorado, avoiding any towns... they'll just set their dogs upon me if I dare to hang around... I was drifting through Wyoming when I heard a rancher say "If you show me honest work, I'll show you honest pay" Lord knows I didn't trust him, but I took him at his word, and we went to branding cattle from a rangy longhorn herd. That was seven years ago, and I ain't left sinse then. Although the winters here are bitter cold, and I never seen such wind. Still, these boys at the Double Diamond, they call me all around. If a calf is lost, tell Willie, you can bet it will be found. My name is William Dubois, I'm black as a moonless night. And if you're history books don't tell you, every cowboy ain't snow white.