The Lone Writer 7 months agoAugust 18, 2022

Western Song: Desert Pete

American singer-songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler wrote the song “Desert Pete.” Then, The Kingston Trio recorded and released it as a single in 1963, under the Contemporary Folk genre. It rose to #12 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart, spending five weeks on the chart. “Desert Pete” b/w “Ballad of the Thresher” was also the lead-off single of The Kingston Trio’s album entitled “Sunny Side!” Members of the Western Writers of America added the song to the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

Table of Contents

About the Song

“Desert Pete” became one of The Kingston Trio’s hit songs. The song displays Wheeler’s typical songwriting style—adding a twist to his songs and bringing smiles to anyone who listens to it. It tells the story of a man crossing the desert who eventually finds a water pump. Next to the pump was a note left by Desert Pete, urging its reader to use its contents to prime the pump instead of drinking from the jar itself. The man follows the instruction, earning an abundance of cool, refreshing water. Acting in faith responsibly allowed him to quench his thirst and help others receive needed water as well.

Popular Recordings

Other versions of the song were recorded by the following artists:

Billy Edd Wheeler
Don Edwards/Waddie Mitchell

In Albums

The song also appears on the following albums by The Kingston Trio:

Sunny Side! (1963)
Made in the U.S.A. (1989)
The Capitol Collectors Series (1990)
Greatest Hits [Cema] (1995)
The Capitol Years (1995)
The Original (1996)
Kingston Trio #16/Sunny Side! (2000)
The Stewart Hits (2000)
The Story (2000)
Greatest Hits [Collectables] (2003)
HMV Easy: The Kingston Trio Collection (2006)

Listen to Desert Pete (The Kingston Trio Version)

Desert Pete Lyrics

I was travelin' west of Buckskin on my way to a cattle run
'Cross a little cactus desert under a hot blisterin' sun
I was thirsty down to my toenails, stopped to rest me on a stump
But I tell ya I just couldn't believe it when I saw that water pump

I took it to be a mirage at first it'll fool a thirsty man
Then I saw a note stuck in a bakin' powder can
"This pump is old," the note began, "But she works so give'r a try
I put a new sucker washer in 'er you may find the leather dry."

"You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe
You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive
Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet
But leave the bottle full for others, thank you kindly, Desert Pete."

"Yeah, you'll have to prime the pump, work that handle like there's a fire
Under that rock you'll find some water I left in a bitters jar
Now there's just enough to prime it with, so don't you go drinkin' first
You just pour it in and pump like mad, buddy, you'll quench your thirst."

Well I found that jar and I tell ya nothin' was ever prettier to my eye
And I was tempted strong to drink it 'cuz that pump looked mighty dry
But the note went on, "Have faith my friend, there's water down below
You've got to give until you get, I'm the one who ought to know."

So, I poured in the jar and I started pumpin' and I heard a beautiful sound
Of water bubblin' and splashin' up outta that hole in the ground
I took off my shoes and I drunk my fill of that cool refreshing treat
I thank the Lord and thank the pump and I thank old Desert Pete

"You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe
"You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive
"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet
"But leave the bottle full for others, thank you kindly, Desert Pete."

"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet"
"But leave the bottle full for others, thank you kindly, Desert Pete."

The Lone Writer

The Lone Writer is an American frontier and Old West journalist and historian. He loves to read, write and review all things western, whether historical or fiction.