Poems & lyrics celebrating Kansas Flint Hills land & people by Annie Wilson – the “Flint Hills Balladeer”
Mollie Mae Fights Back
Come gather round me children And a story you will hear, About Mollie May the cowgirl,Who’s wrangled many-a steer. A brave and spunky lady, A woman of few words,And the cattle-owners trust in her To take care of their herds. Mollie lives deep in the Flint Hills Where the roads are far between, Out in the open rangeland Where folks are seldom seen. She used to ride in rodeos, Was several times the queen. But now she rides for ranches. She’s small & quick & lean. Mean Max was just a bully, a cruel and nasty drunk. His horses all went hungry, And his yard was full of junk. His neighbors learned to doubt The boastful stories that he told. He liked to frighten strangers Who happened down his road. Max had a crush on Mollie, But she never liked him back, So he tried to make her life a hell With cowardly attacks. He’d sneak into her pastures And make her cattle scatter. She’d find them lame & stressed, and wonder what could be the matter? Max opened Mollie’s gates until Her cattle all had strayed. It took her weeks to sort out all The trouble that he made. One day he finally went too far,The lowest, meanest act: He was cuttin’ wires in her fence! She saw it for a fact. Mean Max was askin’ for it; He’d made his big mistake; Cause Mollie May had taken all The meanness she could take. She jumped right off her horse &Then she headed for that man,A heavy pair of fencing pliers Raised in her right hand. They tossed & tumbled on the ground. He hardly knew what hit him. She had him pinned and cryin’ out And promising he’d quit it.The neighbors saw the whole thing And they swear that to this day:They never thought a girl her size Could fight and win that way. Mean Max was so ashamed that Soon he moved back into town.The countryside is safe again For folks to drive around. Max’s dirty tricks are over; Mollie’s life is trouble-free. She takes care of her cattle now In peace and harmony.
Oh Mollie, Mollie Mae, Just fight back, Then you’ll have your day!
Hear this song for free at: tallgrassexpress.com/mollie-mae-fights-back. Contact Annie: tallgrassexpress.com/contact
