Lyrics

My 4th great grandma left California back in 1872

For a town called Pioche, Nevada when the silver mines were new.

She'd been driven out of San Bernadino in one of the Indian raids.

The silver mines needed supplies and her husband was a freighter by trade.

Well her name was Martha and the town folk swore she kept a pistol in her petticoat

She'd say, "Here in the desert it's a lawless land, and everybody oughtta know

that you have to take justice into your own hands if you wanna survive Pioche."

Martha had two young daughters growing up in the devil's land

She'd warn them girls be wise in love, and don't trust every handsome man.

But out in the desert the young men grow up mysterious and wild.

Wasn't long before Martha found out both girls were expecting a child.

Well his name was Frank and neither girl knew that he'd been seeing the other

and he might have got away with it if Martha hadn't been theri mother.

She'd say, "Out here you get roughed up or get tougher,

but there ain't no tough like a west-desert mother,

turn a rebel outlaw into nothing but a runner.

Just you wait and see.

He won't get away with this;

Frank's gonna answer to me."

He wouldn't own up to what he'd done or see either girl again.

Went right on playing and gamblin like nobody could touch him.

Grandma Martha wasn't the type to take a fast one lyin' down.

Her grit was as great as her patience, and Frank had a ranch outside town.

She was in no hurry so she bided her time 'til he was gamblin' in the saloon

With a storm rolling in the clouds would soon darken even the light of the moon

Well the snow fell heavy and the bitter wind burned, but it covered her pinto's tracks.

As Martha made her way to Frank's land with kerosene in the saddlebag

As the rooftop emerged in the darkness, Martha shivered from the chill

She just pulled her coat a little tighter though; she had a purpose to fulfill

She poured a careful ring of kerosene and touched it with a match

Stepped back and smiled, watched a while, then she climbed on her horse and rode back.

And she was saying "Out here you get roughed up or get tougher,

but there ain't no tough like a west-desert mother,

turn a rebel outlaw into nothing but a runner.

Just you wait and see.

He won't get away with this;

Frank's gonna answer to me."

Well I'd liked to have seen the look on his when Frank got home to find

Nothin' but a few flames and ashes burning in the night

They say he knew then Martha got her revenge, and he packed up to leave Nevada

Sold out the next day for what little he could and a new start in Montana.

And he was saying, "Out here you get roughed up or get tougher,

but there ain't no tough like a west-desert mother. 

Turn a rebel outlaw into nothin' but a runner.

Just you look at me.

I thought I'd get away with it

But Martha got the best of me. 

-Kaeli Chae