Три версии текста песни. I. Cowboy Version Song:Red River Valley 1. From this valley they say you are going. I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile. For they say you are taking the sunshine. That has brightened our pathway awhile. Chorus: Come and sit by my side if you love me. Do not hasten to bid me adieu. But remember the Red River Valley and the cowboy that loves you so true. 2. From this valley they say your are going. I will miss your sweet face and your smile. Just because you are weary and tired, You are changing your range for awhile. 3. I've been waiting a long time my darling For the sweet words you never say. Now at last all my fond hopes have vanished. For they say you are going away. 4. O there never could be such a longing In the heart of a poor cowboy's breast. That now dwell in the heart you are breaking. As I wait in my home in the west. 5. Do you think of the valley you're leaving? O how lonely and drear it will be! Do you think of the kind heart you're breaking. And the pain you are causing to me? 6. As you go to your home by the ocean, May you never forget those sweet hours That we spent in the Red River Valley, And the love we exchanged mid the flowers. II. originally "In the Bright Mohawk Valley" some verses perhaps by James Kerrigen, 1896 Fur Trade Version Song: Red River Valley 1. From this valley they say you are going, I will miss your sweet face and sweet smile, Just because you are weary and tired, You are changing your range for a while. Chorus: Then come sit here a while 'ere you leave me, Do not hasten to bid me adieu But remember the Red River Valley And the girl that has loved you so true. 2. I've been thinking a long time, my darling, Of the sweet words you never would say, Now alas, must my fond hopes all vanish? For they say you are going away. 3. When you think of the valley you're leaving Oh how lonely and drear it it would be, When think of the fond heart you're breaking And the pain you are causing to me. 4. From this valley they say you are going; When you go, may your darling go too? Would you leave her behind unprotected When she loves no other but you? 5. I have promised you darling that never, Shall the words from my lips cause you pain; And my life is still your's forever, If you only will love me again. 6. Must the past with it's joys be blighted By the future of sorrow and pain, And the vows that were spoken be slighted? Don't you think, you can love me again? 7. As you go to your home by the ocean May you never forget those sweet hours That we spent in the Red River Valley And the love we exchanged 'mid the flowers 8. There never could be such a longing In the heart of a poor maiden's breast, That dwells in the heart you are breaking As I wait in my home in the West. 9. And the dark maiden's prayer for her lover To the Spirit that rules the world: May his pathway be ever in sunshine, Is the prayer of the Red River girl. III. Song: RED RIVER VALLEY To the Red River Valley we are going, For to get us some trains and some trucks. But if I had my say so about it, I'd still be at home in the sack. Come and sit by my side at the briefing, Do not hasten to bid me adieu. To the Red River Valley we're going, And I'm flying four in Flight Blue. We went for to check on the weather, And they said it was clear as could be. I lost my wingman 'round the field, And the rest augered in out at sea. S-2 said there's no flak where we're going, S-2 said there's no flak on the way. There's a dark overcast o'er the target, I'm beginning to doubt what they say. To the valley they say we are going, And many strange sights will we see. But the one there that held my attention, Was the SAM that they threw up at me. To the valley he said he was flying, And he never saw the medal that he earned. Many jocks have flown into the valley, And a number have never returned. So I listened as he briefed on the mission, Tonight at the bar Teak Flight will sing. But we're going to the Red River Valley, And today you are flying my wing. Oh, the flak is so thick in the valley, That the MiGs and the SAMs we don't need. So fly high and down-sun in the valley, And guard well the ass of Teak Lead. Now things turn to shit in the valley, And the briefing I gave, you don't heed. They'll be waiting at the Hanoi Hilton, And it's fish heads and rice for Teak Lead. We refueled on the way to the valley, In the States it had always been fun. But with thunder and lightning all around us, 'twas the last A. A. R. for Teak One. When he came to a bridge in the valley, He saw a duty that he couldn't shun. For the first to roll in on the target, Was my leader, old Teak Number One. Oh, he flew through the flak toward the target, With his bombs and his rockets drew a bead. But he never pulled out of his bomb run, 'twas fatal for another Teak Lead. So come sit by my side at the briefing, We will sit there and tickle the beads. For we're going to the Red River Valley, And my call sign for today is Teak Lead. "S-2" is intelligence; "AAR" stands for air-to-air refueling.