[Verse 1]
In eighteen and twenty-five
I left Tennessee very much alive
I never would have got through the Arkansas mud
If I hadn't been a-ridin on the Tennessee stud
I had a little trouble with my sweetheart's pa
One of her brothers was a bad outlaw
I sent her a letter by my Uncle Fud
And I rode away on the Tennessee stud

[Chorus]
The Tennessee stud was long and lean
The color of the sun and his eyes were green
He had the nerve and he had the blood
And there never was a horse like the Tennessee stud

[Verse 2]
Drifted on down into no man's land
Crossed the river called the Rio Grande
I raced my pony with the Spaniard's fold
And I won me a sack full of silver and gold
Me and the Spainiad, we couldn't agree
We got in a fight over Tennessee
Pulled our pistols and he fell with a thud
And I rode away on my Tennessee stud
[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
I went back to Arkansas
Whipped her brother and I whipped her pa
Found me the girl with the golden hair
And she was ridin' on the Tenessee mare
Little baby crawlin' on the cabin floor
Little full colt playin' 'round the door
I love the girl with golden hair
And the Tennessee stud loves the Tennessee mare

[Chorus]