He was born to slavery

In the white man's Tennessee

From a time that we won't know

When we were so alone

Headed to Texas after the war

His freedom pushed him to explore

A ranch hand that's much desired

And quickly he is hired

He was an underdog

And you know what that means

He was an underdog

He forged a legacy

He found his home right here

On the Alberta frontier

From Montana to Calgary

His talents they did need

He found Mildred and settled down

Had five children,

Toiled the ground

Poor Mildred died in 1905

and John ain't far behind

He was an underdog

He came from slavery

A black cowboy so strong

He made his destiny

When were underdogs

He made a place for me

His name forever carved

Into our history

He was an underdog

He came from slavery

A black cowboy so strong

He made his destiny

When we were underdogs

He made a place for me

John Ware is his name

And we carry his legacy