The Ballad Of Alferd Packer Lyrics - Phil Ochs

This is the ballad of Alferd Packer 

An infamous guy to the old west 

In the state of Colorado in the year of seventy-four 

They crossed the San Juan Mountains growing hungry to the core 

Their guide was Alferd Packer, they trusted him too long 

For his character was weak and his appetite was strong 

They called him a murderer, a cannibal, a thief 

It just doesn't pay to eat anything but Government inspected beef 

Along the Gunnison River, an Indian camp they spied 

An Indian chief approached them to stop them he did try 

He warned them of the danger in the snow that lay around 

But the danger was in Packer for his hunger knew no bound 

They called him a murderer, a cannibal, a thief 

It just doesn't pay to eat anything but Government inspected beef 

Two cold months went slowly by, Packer came back alone 

My comrades they all froze to death, I'm starving, he did moan 

The Indian chief knew how he lied, he spat upon the ground 

For Packer's belly hung out all over his belt, he'd gained some thirty pounds 

They called him a murderer, a cannibal, a thief 

It just doesn't pay to eat anything but Government inspected beef 

Well, for nine long years he ran away, but finally he was tried 

He claimed he didn't kill them, he only ate their hide 

That County had six democrats, until that man arrived 

Well only one lives on today, he ate the other five [Incomprehensible] 

Eighteen years he stayed in jail, it was a dreadful fate 

For he suffered indigestion every time he ate 

Still, it's hard to blame this hungry guy who went searchin' for the mines 

For when he ate his friends, he'd never heard of Duncan Hines 

For when he ate his friends, he'd never heard of Duncan Hines