Aaron Smith and The Coal Biters

Lyrics

Sam Davis journeyed westward
He was following the trail
Of bent twigs and hoof-prints
And smoldering campfires
He was always just a day behind
Journeyed through the dark and light
But he never caught a glimpse
Just bent twigs and hoof-prints

And Sam went westward in faith
He knew he'd see the day
Martha would return home safe
Had no idea where he was going
But he never lost his way
He journeyed on

Beyond the feet of Lone Mountain
And the vast Kentucky lake
Beyond the hills where he grew up
To the endless golden plains
And he was always just a day behind
He journeyed through the dark and light
But he never caught a glimpse
Just bent twigs and hoof-prints
Bent twigs and hoof-prints

And Sam went westward in faith
He knew he'd see the day
When Martha would return home safe
Had no idea where he was going
But he never lost his way
He journeyed on

On to Fort San Fernando
And the mighty Mississippi
O the river was too wide to cross
And Sam was growing weary
So he prayed to the Lord
To guide his steps and be his light
Found a boat and paid the fare
Made a fire on the banks
To spend the night
But when the morning broke and Sam awoke
There was no trail to find
Tears filled his eyes
Until he saw a bent twig a hoof-print
A bent twig a hoof-print
A bent twig a hoof-print

And Sam went westward in faith
He knew he'd see the day
When Martha would return home safe
Had no idea where he was going
But he never lost his way
He journeyed on

From the plains again to hills
Wooded dark and steep
O the land was hard to cross
And that trail was hard to keep
Still bent twigs and hoof-prints
Were guiding his way

As the days were growing shorter
As the leaves began to change
Then came the day
That on the banks of Cave Creek
Sam lost the trail
And over every inch
In every mile
He tried and tried
He failed to find
A bent twig
A hoof-print

Sam wintered in the cave
Nearly froze and nearly starved
He prayed a thousand prayers
But the heavens grew as hard
As walls of stone in which he slept
And young Sam began to rage
Against the settlers in the hills around
The settlers swore
They'd seen no Indians
No bent twigs
No hoof-prints