Some say my lover's a sinful man
Some say my lover's a fiend
To me he is the only man
Who's ever been good to me

So I'll ride with him, I'll ride with him
I'll ride with him in the morn
I'll ride with him, ride behind him
I'll ride with him right or wrong

He says: "Bess, one day I'll marry you
And I'll take you to Paris or Rome
And we'll have some babies, one or two
And I'll build you a beautiful home."

He says: "Just this one last job, Bess
The yellow gold will be mine
And then we will be gone in the morn, Bess
To live out the rest of our lives."

So I'll ride with him, I'll ride with him
I'll ride with him in the morn
I'll ride with him, ride behind him
I'll ride with him right or wrong

And I know my father would skin him alive
If he knew his intentions for me
But he can't see the good man inside
And how much he looks after me
Oh, I know he isn't an angel
If there's trouble, he's not far behind
But he has a heart of the purest gold
Rarest I'm ever to find

So I'll ride with him, I'll ride with him
I'll ride with him in the morn
I'll ride with him, ride behind him
I'll ride with him right or wrong

Perhaps I'm just a foolish lass
But God can't help me above
For my wanting heart loves a wanted man
I'll live and die for my outlawed love