Annie's lover was a medicine man, and he roamed the chokes and boulders Hick'ry staddle in his big black hand and a star upon his shoulder He'd go down to the meadow at night; he would dance in the firefly light And she would dream like a pagan queen when he'd hold her Annie's lover was a wildcat's brother and the badger's mad companion In his rainbow beads and his straw hat he was the king of mercy canyon In the winter she would trade her crown for boots of buckskin leather Rise up singin' when the sun went down and ride out on the heather They would meet in the meadow at night; they would dance in the fey moonlight Dip and spin, and skate the wind like feathers 'Cause annie's lover was a wildcat's brother and the badger's mad companion In his rainbow beads and his straw hat he was the king of mercy canyon Now if you wander in the twilight hills out past the gates of eden Graze your pony where the dark spring spills and surely you will see them They come down to the meadow at night, there they dance till the mornin' light And all the bounding saints come 'round to greet them 'Cause annie's lover was a wildcat's brother and the badger's mad companion In his rainbow beads and his straw hat he was the king of mercy canyon He was the king of mercy canyon