Deep water, ice and snow And with a thousand cattle, we had to go To get the cattle to the other side You can bet your life we had to ride Now the railroad was but a mile away But some men and horses would die that day We held the herd on a ridge close by As the north wind blew the snowflakes by Well we were all chilled our bodies thru But from cold or fear, nobody knew So we lit us a smoke and we watched her blow Now slack your cinches, we gotta go Deep water, ice and snow And with a thousand cattle we had to go Well I pointed the men and we hit her fast But our luck by now was a fadin fast That man was a talkin from down below As my horse and I were next to go Well my horse turned over and I floated free But the waves was so high, I couldn't see Then my horse swam by and I grabbed his tail He dragged me outa that icy hell Deep water, ice and snow And with a thousand cattle we had to go Well I'll never forget that terrible day When grown men cried and I heard some pray We crossed the cattle to the other side Just to save a vain mans pride Well the hell I've seen was mighty cold But the other kinds worse or so I'm told Well I just hope when I have to go It ain't in deep water, ice or snow Deep water, ice and snow And with a thousand cattle we had to go To get the cattle to the other side You can bet your life we had to ride