From the recording Magdalene
Lyrics
Coronado
M. Litton
Gaily bedight a gallant knight in sunshine and in shadow
Had journeyed long singing a song in search of Eldorado.
But he grew old this knight so bold
And o’er his heart a shadow fell
As he found no spot of ground that looked like Eldorado.
And as his strength failed him at length
He met a pilgrim shadow
“Shadow,” said he, “Where could it be...
“This land of Eldorado?”
“Over the Mountains of the Moon
“Down the Valley of the Shadow
“Ride, boldly ride,” the shade replied
“If you seek for Eldorado!” – Edgar Allen Poe
With thirty horsemen at his side rides the Spaniard Coronado
To search the land they call Quivira for the Seven Cities of Cibalo
“Come ride, boldly ride...”
They stare into the heathen sun, searching the sacred sky
The shadow of a hawk descends, guided by a shaman’s eye
“Come ride, boldly ride... Ride!” the shade replied
There are fires on the distant hills, hear the pounding thunder drums
Phantom dancers fill the clouds, calling for them to come
“Come ride, boldly ride...”
The Franciscan who brought the cross, his name was Juan Padillo
He accompanied Cortez in the conquest of Mexico
But when he came to Kansas, he came to save the savage soul
A victim of his own design, the wolves licked his martyred bones
“Come ride, boldly ride... Ride!” the shade replied
On the morning of a hundred nights, crossing the bone-dry plains
They behold a golden tower, as quickly the vision fades
“Come ride, boldly ride...”
Where lie the Seven Sisters, Golden Cities of Cibalo?
“Over the Mountains of the Moon, down the Valley of the Shadow
“Come ride, boldly ride... Ride!” the shade replied.