[Verse 1] In the Arizona sand I rode with a rented bridle My hat low, my shirt tore thin And trouble rode beside me A silver coin in my left hand A black deal in my right A judge on one side of the law A bandit on the other My mare kept pace through mesquite Past a fenced-in water line And I heard Ma from years ago Like she was right behind me [Pre-Chorus] She said, "Boy, when the dark comes close Don't let it name your soul" "Keep your hands clean, keep your heart true And let the wild wind roll" [Chorus] Always stay good, son Always stay good, son Then you won't worry Then you won't worry Always stay good, son Always stay good, son I hear her in my blood I hear her in my blood [Verse 2] The bad man had a fast horse And a smile like a knife He said, "Ride with me tonight And I can buy you a life" He showed me gold and gun smoke And a road straight out the town Said, "One wrong turn is easier Than carrying love around" But I saw my mother's hands Rough from soap and rain She fed us bread and prayers When the winter cut the lane [Pre-Chorus] She said, "Boy, when the dark comes close Don't let it name your soul" "Keep your hands clean, keep your heart true And let the wild wind roll" [Chorus] Always stay good, son Always stay good, son Then you won't worry Then you won't worry Always stay good, son Always stay good, son I hear her in my blood I hear her in my blood [Bridge] So I turned my horse to daylight And I let that offer fall Took the hard road through the brush With my back against the law If I die before sunrise Let the record say this plain I chose the word she gave me Over profit, fear, and shame [Final Chorus] Always stay good, son Always stay good, son Then you won't worry Then you won't worry Always stay good, son Always stay good, son I hear her in my blood I hear her in my blood Always stay good, son Always stay good, son I walked out of the dark I walked out of the dark