Just a ragged kid in overalls
He thumbed a ride one day
He said, "Anywhere you're headed on my way."
But as we passed by Big Al's drive-in
His eyes began to flash
He was leavin' Rapid City mighty fast

He said, "I hope to God she finds
The good-bye letter that I wrote her
But the mail don't move to fast
In Rapid City, South Dakota."

--- Instrumental ---

Well, he left her just a blanket
Of snow upon the farm
And that don't keep your conscience very warm
He said his friends were too durn country
And his pa was too damn mean
And there ain't no money pumpin' gasoline

And her gentle eyes, the merchandise
Of dreams the peddler sold her
As he left her there in Rapid City, South Dakota

Now the reason he was goin'
I ain't sure I could say
Might've been the rodeo in Santa F'
"There's a doctor in chicago
I know she'll be all right."
He told himself as he stared into the night
And he said, "I hope to God she finds
The good-bye letter that I wrote her
But the mail don't move so fast
In Rapid City, South Dakota."

And all her people treatin' her
Just like they never knowed her
Lord, the winter's passin' slow
In Rapid City, South Dakota