(This is a Bill Monroe classic bout two great race horses
One of them named Tenbrooks from Kentucky
The other named Molly from Rhode Island
And Molly was livin' in California while the Tenbrooks was raised in Kentucky
And they heard about how fast each other was
And it was long way back in them days between Kentucky and California
So they met half way and they had a race
It's the true story)

Hey run ol' Molly run run ol' Molly run
Tenbrooks gonna beat you to the bright and shinin' sun
To the bright and shinin' sun oh Lord to the bright and shinin' sun

Tenbrooks was big bad horse he had a shaggy mane
He run all round to Memphis he'd beat the Memphis train
Beat the Memphis train oh Lord beat the Memphis train

See that train a comin' it's comin' round the curb
See ol' Tenbrooks runnin' he's strainin' every nerve
Strainin' every nerve oh Lord strainin' every nerve
[ mandolin ]
Out in California well Molly done as she pleased
Come back to ol' Kentucky got beat with all ease
Beat with all ease oh Lord beat with all ease

Kiper Kiper you're not ridin' as right
Molly's beatin' ol' Tenbrooks clear her out of sight
Clear her out of sight oh Lord clear her out of sight

Kiper Kiper Kiper my son
Your ol' Tenbrooks provide her let ol' Tenbrooks run
Let ol' Tenbrooks run oh Lord let ol' Tenbrooks run
[ fiddle ]
The women all're laughin' the children all're cryin'
Men're a hollerin' ol' Tenbrooks is flyin'
Ol' Tenbrooks is flyin' oh Lord ol' Tenbrooks is flyin'

Well goin' catch ol' Tenbrooks and hitch him in the shade
We gonna bury ol' Molly in coffin ready made
Coffin ready made oh Lord coffin ready made