Next Good Thing

2026-01-05

George Hardman was a cowboy who was born in Huntsville, Utah, in the 1870s and lived in Star Valley, Wyoming, Malad, Idaho, and other parts of the mountain west. All the stories in this song are from his autobiography and related sources. Lyrics are by me collaborating with AI.

listen to a performance of the song

[Verse 1] Crouching low in autumn light, George shot a deer. It ran from sight. He chased till dark in jacket thin, No gloves, wind whipped, snow driving in... Relief came when he found a trail Until he saw his own boot heel [Refrain] He did the next good thing, Next good thing with what he had Ohhhh [Verse 2] Cold came brutal, froze to bone He passed out dim, woke spread in snow, No sense of falling, he fought to stand, Then wobbled on, then down again He dropped what couldn't carry on And stumbled on to keep his line [Refrain] He did the next good thing, Next good thing with what he had Ohhhh [Verse 3] He piled needles, slept through storm, Walked in the clear, then couldn't stand So dropped to crawl on knees and hands Through endless drifts till sight of home. Fifty yards, then ten -- his hands too numb, he hit the door with his head [Refrain] He did the next good thing, Next good thing with what he had Ohhhh [Bridge] Warm air wrapped him Fire set They hauled him in And laid him flat Ohhhh [Verse 4] Years on, he sent his boy to find a stray horse, bridle in his hand. Darkness fell, coyotes yipped, the boy pushed on, alone George sent men when his boy stayed gone, pulled him close when they brought him home [Refrain] He did the next good thing, Next good thing with what he had Ohhhh [Verse 5] Years brought pain and slowed his legs The jobs ran thin but hands stayed game-- Leather work filled up his days. Braiding stopped when his heart gave way He brought it as they bore him out For a day that never came [Refrain] He did the next good thing, Next good thing with what he had Ohhhh [Outro] George rests quiet The belt hangs still Ohhhh He did the next good thing, Next good thing with what he had Ohhhh Ohhhh