She could run

It was in the dead of winter, in a hail of snow and ice
When the pride of old kentucky came gasping into life
She was weak and she was wobbly
And her legs were much too long
But her heart was like a chalice
Where the fire of god was strong
And she could run... run... run...

At six months old they noticed she was faster than the rest
By the time she was a yearling she was racing past the best
So they took her down and trained her,
But they never used a whip
‘cause she’d shoot off like a cannonball
When they let her take the bit
And she could run... run... run...

Now i’ve heard it said
A racin’ horse is only born to run
Some say horses don’t possess a soul
But i have seen a shining there
As bright as any sun
And that comes from only
One great source i know

Well, they ran her in the derby and she won it by a length
Then she took the famous preakness
In a show of speed and strength
They named her in the papers as a favorite of the crowds
A third win at the belmont stakes
Would take the triple crown
And she could run... run...
Praise be to glory she could run

But on the morning of the belmont
The rain was pourin’ down
And the track was wet
And dangerous that day
The bell rang and they cried "they’re off!" but the big bay swerved and fell
And she went down
Trying to jump out of his way

Well, the jockey heard her leg bone snap
As they slammed into the fence
"dear god, don’t let this be," he prayed,
But that’s the way it went
She struggled but she could not rise –
Her eyes rolled white and wild
As he knelt to calm her in the mud he cried just like a child
‘cause she could run... run... run...

Now i’ve heard it said
A racin’ horse is only born to run
Some say horses don’t possess a soul
But i have seen a shining there
As bright as any sun
And that comes from only
One great source i know

Well, she never felt the poison they gave to end her pain
She only heard a quiet voice and felt a gentle rain
Her spirit raced towards the light and she became aware
Of blue sky all around her and bluegrass every where
And she could run... run...
Praise be to glory, praise be to glory

Praise be to glory, she could run...