Ranch for Wayward Boys
by Mike Moutoux, Western Entertainer & Cowboy Poet

It was known as the Ranch for Wayward Boys
Quite a few young men passed through her gates
Most didn’t stay long; some won’t admit it
But that ranch changed all their fates

Six hundred acres of grass and timber
Two little creeks that never ran dry
A bunkhouse, a barn, corrals and the house
Gave refuge to the boys by and by

The boys all had to work and hated it
They had to learn to ride and were afraid
But the ranch had a way of changing that
Changed the way worked, the way they played

I saw what happened to the boys who came
And wondered what it was that caused the change
Was it something the ranch exposed in them
Or something they found out there on the range?

I do have a theory but it sounds crazy
You see, I think the land brought on the cure
Those boys found something they needed out there
What it was they found, well, I’m not sure

The land soaks up troubles like a rain
And it soaked up every problem those boys brought
They came with inward pain and outward anger
The land just soaked it up ‘til they forgot

Sometimes, the bunkhouse will be empty
That’s when I start expecting certain rains
Low clouds blow in to wash away the hurt
Two creeks fill up and take away old pains

And then a car stops in the driveway
Lets out a boy who won’t admit he’s scared
Now this is the part you’ll think is crazy
I think the ranch is really glad he’s there

I see it in the way the way the horses look
I sense it in the creek and grasses too
Like everything is sizin’ up the new hand
Judging how much work they have to do