Desert peteartist: the kingston trio (peak billboard position # 33 in 1963)words and music by billy edd wheeleri was travellin' west a buckskin on my way to a cattle runcross a little cactus desert under a hot blisterin' suni was thirsty down to my toenails, stopped to rest me on a stumpbut i tell ya i just couldn't believe it when i saw that water pumpi took it to be a mirage at first, it'll fool a thirsty manthen i saw a note stuck in a bakin' powder can�this pump is old�, the note began, �but she works so give'r a try��i put a new sucker washer in �er, you may find the leather dry��you've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe��you've got to give of yourself �fore you're worthy to receive��drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet��leave the bottle full for others, thank you kindly, desert pete��yeah, you'll have to prime the pump, work that handle like there's a fire��under that rock you'll find some water i left in a bitters jar��now there's just enough to prime it with so dontcha go drinkin' first��you just pour it in and pump like mad, buddy, you'll quench your thirst��you've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe��you've got to give of yourself �fore you're worthy to receive��drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet��leave the bottle full for others, thank you kindly, desert pete�well i found that jar and i tell ya nothin' was ever prettier to my eyeand i was tempted strong to drink it, cuz that pump looked mighty drybut the note went on �have faith my friend, there's water down below��you got to give until you get�i'm the one who ought to know�so i poured in the jar and i started pumpin' and i heard a beautiful soundof water bubblin' and splashin' up outta that hole in the groundi took off my shoes and i drunk my fill of that cool refreshing treati thank the lord and thank the pump and i thank old desert pete�you've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe��you've got to give of yourself �fore you're worthy to receive��drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet��leave the bottle full for others, thank you kindly, desert pete��drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet��leave the bottle full for others, thank you kindly, desert pete�transcribed by ronald e. hontzronhontz@worldnet.att.net