Verse 1 We were flyin’ through the Badlands on a hot Dakota day, Mom was takin’ every curve like the road got in her way. Kids in the backseat laughin’, thinkin’ speed was just a game, While the trailer fishtailed wildly like it wanted to stake its claim. Scraped a rock wall once, but we thought it was a thrill — Didn’t know the brakes were empty and the hill was all downhill. Chorus Then the trailer kissed the guardrail, snapped it clean in two, Swung out over the canyon like it had somethin’ to prove. Pulled our wagon toward the edge, tryin’ hard to take us down, And someone swears that on the way it flattened some poor cow. But the frame dug in and saved us, held on tight somehow — Just another family memory from the Badlands of South Dakota now. Verse 2 We climbed out one by one while strangers lined the road, Mom and Dad were pale as ghosts, but we kids were in adventure mode. Didn’t feel a lick of panic, didn’t know how close we came, Didn’t see the fear they carried or the weight of all that blame. Highway patrolman shook his head, said, “You’re lucky to be here — No brake fluid in that trailer? That’s a death wish on a hill this sheer.” Chorus Yeah, the trailer kissed the guardrail, snapped it clean in two, Swung out over the canyon like it had somethin’ to do. Pulled our wagon toward the edge, tryin’ hard to take us down, And rumor says it took out one unlucky grazing cow. But the dirt grabbed hold and stopped us, kept us safe somehow — Just another family legend from the Badlands of South Dakota now. Bridge Dad threatened to sue the company, and they didn’t even fight, Paid for our whole vacation just to make it right. We spent that night in a motel bed instead of campin’ on the ground, And to a kid who loved adventure, that felt like royal crown. Final Chorus ’Cause the trailer kissed the guardrail, snapped it clean in two, Tried to drag us off the cliff like it had somethin’ left to prove. But the wagon held its ground and kept us here somehow — And the Badlands let us go, though I still don’t know how. Just a wild old story we laugh about now, The trailer, the cliff… and maybe a cow.