SILVER BLAZE
by Jim Hawkins
Nashville Scholars of the Three Pipe Problem
January 6, 2000 - on the occasion of Holmes' 146th birthday
Sung to the tune of "Silver Bells"

(Chorus - always inset in this format) Silver Blaze, Silver Blaze. We're off by train down to Dartmoor. Famous case; quite the race. Let's go with Watson and Holmes. (Verse 1) On the train we set our watches By the posts flying by; Holmes is wearing his famous deerstalker. While we're flying, we are prying Into John Straker's death, And where dear Colonel Ross's hoss had gone. (Chorus) Silver Blaze, Silver Blaze. Let's take the train from the city. Silent dog, Dartmoor bog; Something quite queer going on. (Verse 2) At the stables near Kings Pyland There's a bloke sneakin' 'round. Offering bribes to the maid and the jockey. Next we hear that curried mutton Brought the whole crime about; Blaze is missing and poor Straker's dead. (Chorus) Wessex Cup, somethin's up. Something's afoot at the races! Simpson found, I'll be bound! Holmes has his eyes on the knife. (Verse 4) At the crime scene, Holmes is crawling On all fours through the mud; Finds the clue that he knew he would find there. Then we moor-walk and we small-talk Over Capleton way. Sherlock's straight talk with Brown brings him 'round. (Chorus) Nippin' sheep, diggin' deep, Straker thought horses were stupid. When he bled, stomped his head; Old Blaze out foxed him that day. (Verse 5) Tendon-nicking, Holmes' knit-picking Into Straker's real show, Brought it all to the light for the Colonel. As the saw goes, if the dog knows He won't bark and won't tell On his friend though he's rotten and poor. (Final Chorus) Silver Blaze, Sliver Blaze. Can't hang a poor horse for murder! Colonel Ross finds his hoss, Holmes clears it up on the train.