I wandered the desert,
And rode o’er the uplands.
In all of my travels, no beauty did see.
Then one day met an old man with a mule and a wagon.
Said, ‘the prairie’s the place that you outta be.’

So I headed on out,
Where the old man had pointed.
I travelled two days or maybe ’twas three.
And there on a hillside, I saw a fine woman.
A Wild Prairie Rose who was waiting for me.

Well I’d ne’re seen such beauty.
Her dark hair all hanging.
Her skin was like silk.
And her eyes like the sea.
She waved, ‘come on over’.
And I spurred my horse onward.
And The Wild Prairie Rose
Kept on beckoning to me.

Well I kissed her red lips
As I lay down beside her.
We both fell asleep ‘neath the cottonwood tree.
When I woke from my slumbers
My head kinda dizzy.
My Wild Prairie Rose
Was no longer with me.

So I drank from my bottle
My thirst for a quenching.
My mouth was as dry as the grass and prairie.
Then I saddled my horse and I made for the mountains.
My Wild Prairie Rose just a sweet memory.