The Last Gunfighter

[6GUNSONLY]

Anyone remember this one? Written by Guy Clark. I think Johnny Cash may have recorded it, too. Link to recording by Guy Clark with Waylon Jennings:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqu-bocIa1Y

Here's a different sorta version, with old western movie drama:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EydS7DF6OeE

One more, by one of my favorites, Steve Earle:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VnfRcUdblJ0




Ballad of the Last Gunfighter
 
The old gunfighter on the porch 
stared into the sun 
and relived the days of living by the gun 
when deadly games of pride were played 
and living was mistakes not made

and the thought of the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke 
Ah, the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke 

It's always keep your back to the sun 
and he can almost feel the weight of the gun 
it's faster than snakes or the blink of an eye 
and it's a time for all slow men to die 
and his eyes get squinty and his fingers twitch 
and he empties the gun at the son of a bxxxx

and he's hit by the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke 
hit by the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke 

Now the burn of a bullet is only a scar 
he's back in his chair in front of the bar 
and the streets are empty and the blood's all dried 
and the dead are dust and the whiskey's inside 
so buy him a drink and lend him an ear 
he's nobody's fool and the only one here 

who remembers the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke 
remember the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke 

He said I stood in that street before it was paved 
learned shoot or be shot before I could shave 
and I did it all for the money and fame 
noble was nothing but feeling no shame 
and nothing was sacred but stayin' alive 
and all that I learned from a Colt 45 

was to curse the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke 
curse the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke 

Now he's just an old man that no one believes 
says he's a gunfighter, the last of the breed 
and there are ghosts in the street seeking revenge 
calling him out to the lunatic fringe 
now he's out in the traffic checking the sun 
and he's killed by a car as he goes for his gun 

So much for the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke 
so much for the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

 

[Coop]

Oh man, forgot about that one. Definitely going to be added to my set lists. Just put another new (for me) one on there too - Ballad of Billy Gray by Norman Blake.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Hey Coop, I looked up and listened to "The Ballad of Billy Gray" - loved it, and I can now add Norman Blake to my list of picker/storytellers! Thanks.
Ken