Small Victory

G C G You've no business buying a mare like that, but buy her if you must." C G D He bit the end off his cigar and spat it in the dust G "She's old, she's lame, and barren too C D She's not worth feed and hay G But I'll give you this, " - he blew smoke at me C G "She was something in her day." G C G "I recall her well ten years ago; she was a winner in her prime C G D She was fast, and lean, and willing, but they raced her past her time G C And though she had the heart, her legs were gone G D G And it wasn't hard to see, they kept her at it C D G In the hopes of just one more small victory." G C G "She was shunted around from track to track, from Kentucky up to Maine C G D They'd run her in cheap claimers, all doped up to mask her pain G C G D And if it's my advice you want, I'd say, the poor thing's had her day G D G You'd be throwing good cash after bad. It's best you turn away." G C G Well they led her around the auction shed, and the bidding started low C D "She'll go for dog food, " someone said, "the market's been that slow." G But she raised her head, C D And pricked her ears, and before the hammer fell G She was mine C G My friend turned around to me "You're soft-headed. I can tell." G But she's been shoved from pillar to C G Post, " said I, "And always done her best C G D They used her up, they wrung her dry; you'd think she'd earned a rest G C G D So if she does naught but end her days beneath some shady tree G I'll have saved her from the C D G Knacker's yard, and that's enough for me." C G Well, that was near two years ago, she's filled out some since then C D The more so since she's been in foal; she eats enough for ten G C D And this morn as I crept to the barn around about half past three G C G There stood nursing on still trembling legs, one more small victory