all my life i ve wondered if what i done was wrong all i ever cared to do was ride my pony on i never had no heartache was always happy and gay until i met a texas girl who stole my heart away where the sleepy rio grande goes slowly to the sea it was there she promised to be mine throughout eternity but the angels they grew jealous of her beauty and her smile and came along one stormy night and stole away my bride the birds have hushed their singing sadness is over the land the birds miss my darling by the sleepy rio grande her lips were like the russian wine her hair it hung in curls her cheeks were like the dawn of day that breaks upon the world she s gone and left me lonely i miss the touch of her hand tonight while i am walking by the sleepy rio grande