E [Verse 1] E A Just a ragged kid in overalls B E He thumbed a ride one day A B He said, "Anywhere you're headed on my way." E A But as we passed by Big Al's drive-in B E His eyes began to flash A B He was leavin' Rapid City mighty fast [Chorus] A He said, "I hope to God she finds E The good-bye letter that I wrote her B But the mail don't move to fast A E In Rapid City, South Dakota." [Instrumental] E B A E [Verse 2] E A Well, he left her just a blanket B E Of snow upon the farm A B And that don't keep your conscience very warm E A He said his friends were too darn country B E And his pa was too damn mean A B And there ain't no money pumpin' gasoline [Interlude] A And her gentle eyes, the merchandise E Of dreams the peddler sold her B A E As he left her there in Rapid City, South Dakota [Instrumental] E B A E [Verse 3] E A Now the reason he was goin' B E I ain't sure I could say A B Might've been the rodeo in Santa Fe E A "There's a doctor in chicago B E I know she'll be all right." A B He told himself as he stared into the night [Chorus] A And he said, "I hope to God she finds E The good-bye letter that I wrote her B But the mail don't move so fast A E In Rapid City, South Dakota." [Outro] A And all her people treatin' her E Just like they never knowed her B Lord, the winter's passin' slow A E In Rapid City, South Dakota