Western Song: Last Comanche Moon
The Last Comanche Moon is a song by American novelist and singer/songwriter Mike Blakely. As a performer, Mike Blakely has traveled extensively with himself and his band and has made 16 tours in Europe. He usually performs at festivals, house concerts, and private parties, most of them in Texas. He holds monthly concerts on his farm near Llano and has released eleven CDs on his label that features most of his songs.
His story song named The Last Wild White Buffalo won the first-ever Spur Award for Best Western Song. Members of Western Writers of America have named three of his songs among the Top 100 Western songs of all time: The Last Wild White Buffalo, The Last Comanche Moon, and The Old Cantina.
About the Song Last Comanche Moon
The song, Last Comanche Moon is a ballad in the old sense, nearly seven minutes long and telling an exciting and tragic story similar in some ways to “The Highwayman,” as set to music by Loreena McKennitt. It was the number one requested tune for over sixteen weeks over the Americana radio network in America and, of all places, the top English language station in France. Members of the Western Writers of America ranked the song at # 37 in their list of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
Artists Who Recorded The Songs of Blakely
Blakely’s songs have also been recorded by artists such as:
- Johnny Bush
- Flaco Jiménez
- Raul Malo
- Gary P. Nunn
- Johnny Rodriguez
- Red Steagall
Listen (Mike Blakely Version)
Last Comanche Moon Lyrics
The last Comanche moon was shinin' on me Bright as day my true love walked the trail from Hell's Midnight I rode the Milky Way I raced the Wolf the night The Broken Arrow fell I staked my life and lost my fortune for to save the Mission Belle Hey-y oh I was a cowboy once down on the Rio Grande I rode the ranges for the Broken Arrow brand I was on guard that fateful night in early June I saw the risin' of the last Comanche moon I saw the warriors ride around the river bend I give a shout to rouse the boys their home ranch to defend They kept us pinned down with a hundred arrows flung They come for all our horses, and they left us with just one I'd locked him with a trace chain to a live oak tree that day My racin' blue roan stallion I called the Milky Way Hey-y oh His daddy was a mustang and a famous fightin' stud His mamma was a thoroughbred of pure Kentucky blood He was worth a fortune of a thousand, maybe more His winnin's numbered hundreds and his winters numbered four They raised a cheer back at the Broken Arrow Ranch When I rode the Milky Way into the moonlighted Comanch I shot my way out through a hundred painted braves And struck the trail that led to town my true love for to save My true love was a barmaid and she worked at Gambler's Hell Her name was Julie Anne but she was called the Mission Belle Hey-y oh Julie Anne lived in the ruins of the ancient mission church That stood a mile from town out where the braves were sure to search She always walked the trail alone from Hell's Midnight Saloon And I was bound to save her from the last Comanche moon Halfway to town and I was crossin' Devil Branch, I run onto another raidin' party of Comanch I recognized a warrior on a blood bay mare I knew his name was Wolf they said he'd lifted lots of hair We had hoss raced at the fort he admired my blue roan stud He come on through the moonlight like a lobo trailin' blood The last Comanche moon was shinin' on me bright as day My true love walked the trail from Hell's Midnight I rode the Milky Way I raced the Wolf the night the Broken Arrow fell I staked my life lost my fortune for to save the Mission Belle Hey-y oh I shot my pistol dry and dropped it on the road With my saddle bag and cartridge belt to lighten up the load But an arrow found old Milky Way and his wound began to bleed And the Wolf was on his war horse a fleet Comanche steed There in the moonlight rose the ancient mission wall The Wolf was right behind me when I heard my true love call I rode the racehorse of a lifetime to the ground I swear it died a runnin' and his likes have not been found I landed on my shadow and I lay just where I fell The screams of Julie Ann met with the Wolf's Comanche yell Hey-y oh I've been called a liar and I've been called a fool 'N I've been told Comanches grant no mercy as a rule But old Wolf he seen me helpless and he seen his chance I know But he only rode right by me, and he struck me with his bow He could have killed me but he only counted coup He turned and touched the Milky Way before the ghost had flew He give a war yell like a wolf burned with a brand Then wheeled and ducked the pistol shot by Julie Ann She helped me right up from the hard spot where I fell The last Comanche moon, the Milky Way, the Mission Belle Hey-y oh Well it's been sixty years now since I made that fateful ride It's been twenty winters since I heard the Wolf had died It's been seven moons now since I lost my Julie Ann I'm goin' for to join her boys, my time is near at hand Don't mind my passin' boys, it's time the old man died The Wolf he waits to guide me up the trail o'er the divide The moon is risin' like it did so long ago An' I see the warriors waitin' on the ridge now, all aglow Farewell world of trouble here comes Julie Ann She rides the Milky Way to take me to the promised land The last Comanche moon was shinin' on me Bright as day my true love walked the trail from Hell's Midnight I rode the Milky Way I raced the Wolf the night the Broken Arrow fell I staked my life lost my fortune for to save the Mission Belle Hey-y oh… hey-y oh… hey-y oh…
