Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs

Am E Am N.C. C Am To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day C Am Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to say F C No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip Am For the stranger there amongst them had a big iron on his hip F C Big iron on his hip C Am It was early in the morning when he rode into the town C Am He came riding from the south side, slowly lookin' all around F C "He's an outlaw loose and running," came the whisper from each lip Am "And he's here to do some business with the big iron on his hip" F C Big iron on his hip C Am In this town, there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red C Am Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead F C He was vicious and a killer though a youth of twenty-four Am And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more F C One and nineteen more C Am Now the stranger started talking, made it plain to folks around C Am Was an Arizona ranger, wouldn't be too long in town F C He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead Am And he said it didn't matter, he was after Texas Red F C After Texas Red C Am Wasn't long before the story was relayed to Texas Red C Am But the outlaw didn't worry, men that tried before were dead F C Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip Am Twenty-one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip F C Big iron on his hip C Am The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet C Am It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street F C Folks were watching from their windows, everybody held their breath Am They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death F C About to meet his death C Am There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play C Am And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today F C Texas Red had not cleared leather 'fore a bullet fairly ripped Am And the ranger's aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip F C Big iron on his hip C Am It was over in a moment and the folks had gathered 'round C Am There before them lay the body of the outlaw on the ground F C Oh, he might have went on living but he made one fatal slip Am When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip F C Big iron on his hip F C Big iron, big iron Am When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip F C Big iron on his hip Am ----------------------------------------------------------------- 2.) "A Hundred And Sixty Acres" ----------------------------------------------------------------- D7 G G I got a hundred and sixty acres in the valley D7 Got a hundred and sixty acres of the best G G7 C G Got an old stove there that'll cook three square D7 G G7 And a bunk where I can lay me down to rest C G Up at dawn to greet the sun D7 G G7 I've forgotten what a care or worry means C G Head for home when day is done A7 D7 With my pocket money jinglin' in my jeans G I've got a hundred and sixty acres full of sunshine D7 Got a hundred and sixty million stars above G G7 C G Got an old paint hoss, I'm the guy who's boss D7 G G7 On the hundred and sixty acres that I love C G Up at dawn to greet the sun D7 G G7 I've forgotten what a care or worry means C G Head for home when day is done A7 D7 With my pocket money jinglin' in my jeans G I've got a hundred and sixty acres full of sunshine D7 Got a hundred and sixty million stars above G G7 C G Got an old paint hoss, I'm the guy who's boss D7 G On the hundred and sixty acres that I love G7 C G Got an old paint hoss, I'm the guy who's boss D7 G On the hundred and sixty acres that I love ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3.) "They're Hanging Me Tonight" ----------------------------------------------------------------- ! Capo on 5th fret ! C Am F G7 C Am When I hear the rain a-comin' down C Am It makes me sad and blue C Am Was on a rainy night like this F C That Flo said we were through C Am I told her how I loved her and C Am I begged her not to go C Am But another man had changed her mind F C So I said goodbye to Flo C Am Alone within my cell tonight C Am My heart is filled with fear C Am The only sound within the room F C Is the falling of each tear C Am I think about the thing I've done C Am I know it wasn't right C Am They'll bury Flo tomorrow but F C They're hanging me tonight F C They're hanging me tonight C Am That night he came and took my Flo C Am And headed into town C Am I knew I had to find this man F C And try to gun him down C Am As I walked by a dim cafe C Am And I looked through the door C Am I saw my Flo with her new love F C And I couldn't stand no more F C I couldn't stand no more C Am I took my pistol from my hip C Am And with a trembling hand C Am I took the life of pretty Flo F C And that good-for-nothing man F C That good-for-nothing man C Am I think about the thing I've done C Am I know it wasn't right C Am They'll bury Flo tomorrow but F C They're hanging me tonight F C Am They're hanging me tonight C Am C ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4.) "Cool Water" ----------------------------------------------------------------- B7 E E B7 All day, I've faced a barren waste E B7 Without the taste of water E E7 Cool water A B7 Old Dan and I with throats burned dry E A E And souls that cry for water B7 E Cool, clear water E B7 The nights are cool and I'm a fool E B7 Each star's a pool of water E E7 Cool water A B7 And with the dawn, I'll wake and yawn E A E And carry on to water B7 E Cool, clear water E B7 Keep a-moving, Dan, don’t you listen to him, Dan E B7 He's a devil, not a man, and he spreads the burning sand E E7 With water A E Dan, can you see that big, green tree? A Where the water's running free B7 E A And it's waiting there for you and me? E Water B7 E Cool, clear water E B7 The shadows sway and seem to say E B7 "Tonight, we pray for water" E E7 Cool water A B7 And way up there, He'll hear our prayer E A E And show us where there's water B7 E Cool, clear water E B7 Keep a-moving, Dan, don’t you listen to him, Dan E B7 He's a devil, not a man, and he spreads the burning sand E E7 With water A E Dan, can you see that big, green tree? A Where the water's running free B7 E A And it's waiting there for you and me? E Water B7 E Cool, clear water Am E Cool, clear, water ----------------------------------------------------------------- 5.) "Billy The Kid" ----------------------------------------------------------------- E B7 E E B7 I'll sing you a true song of Billy the Kid E B7 I'll sing of some desperate deeds that he did E E7 A Way out in New Mexico long, long ago E B7 E When a man's only chance was his own forty-four Em Em B7 When Billy the Kid was a very young lad Em B7 In old Silver City, he went to the bad Em Em7 Am Way out in the West with a gun in his hand Em B7 Em At the age of twelve years, he did k**l his first man E E B7 There's Mexican maidens play guitars and sing E B7 Songs about Billy, their boy bandit king E E7 A Ere his young manhood has reached its sad end E B7 E With a notch on his pistol for twenty-one men Em Em B7 Was on a sad night when poor Billy died Em B7 He said to his friend, "I'm not satisfied. Em Em7 Am There's twenty-one men I have put bullets through. Em B7 Em Sheriff Pat Garrett must make twenty-two." E E B7 I'll sing you how Billy the Kid met his fate E B7 The bright moon was shining, the hour was late E E7 A Shot down by Pat Garrett who once was his friend E B7 E The young outlaw's life is now come to an end Em Em B7 There's many a man with a face fine and fair Em B7 Who start out in life with a chance to be square Em Em7 Am Just like poor Billy, they wander astray Em B7 Em They'll lose their lives in the very same way ----------------------------------------------------------------- 6.) "Utah Carol" ----------------------------------------------------------------- ! Capo on 3rd fret ! C C F C And now my friends you've asked me what makes me sad and still G7 C G7 C And why my brow is darkened like the clouds upon the hill F C F C Run in your ponies closer and I'll tell to you my tale G7 C G7 C Of Utah Carol my partner and his last ride on the trail C F C We rode the range together and rode it side by side G7 C G7 C I loved him like a brother and I wept when Utah died F C F C We were rounding up one morning when work was almost done G7 C G7 C When on his side, the cattle started on a frightened run C F C Underneath the saddle that the boss's daughter rode G7 C G7 C Utah, that very morning, had placed a bright red robe F C F C So the saddle might ride easy for Lenore, his little friend G7 C G7 C And it was this red blanket that brought him to his end C F C The blanket was now dragging behind her on the ground G7 C G7 C The frightened cattle saw it and charged it with a bound F C F C Lenore then saw her danger and turned her pony's face G7 C G7 C And leaning in the saddle, tied the blanket to its place C F C But in leaning lost her balance, fell in front of that wild tide G7 C G7 C "Lay still, Lenore. I'm coming," were the words that Utah cried F C F C His faithful pony saw her and reached her with a bound G7 C G7 C I thought he'd been successful and raised her from the ground C F C But the weight upon the saddle had not been felt before G7 C G7 C His back cinch snapped like thunder and he fell by Lenore F C F C Picking up the blanket, he swung it over his head G7 C G7 C And started 'cross the prairie, "Lay still, Lenore," he said C F C When he got the stampede turned and saved Lenore, his friend C G7 C G7 C Then turned to face the cattle and meet his fatal end F C F C His six-gun flashed like lightning, the report rang loud and clear C G7 C G7 C As the cattle rushed and killed him, he dropped the leading steer C F C On his funeral morning, I heard the preacher say G7 C G7 C "I hope we'll all meet Utah at the roundup far away" F C F C Then they wrapped him in a blanket that saved his little friend G7 C G7 C And it was this red blanket that brought him to his end ----------------------------------------------------------------- 7.) "The Strawberry Roan" ----------------------------------------------------------------- ! Capo on 1st fret ! D D A7 I was hanging around town, just spending my time D Out of a job, not earning a dime G A feller steps up and he said, "I suppose A7 You're a bronc fighter from the looks of your clothes." D A7 "You figures me right. I'm a good one," I claim D "Do you happen to have any bad ones to tame?" G Said he's got one, a bad one to buck A7 D For throwing good riders, he's had lots of luck D A7 I gets all het up and I ask what he pays D To ride this old nag for a couple of days G He offered me ten and I said, "I'm your man A7 A bronc never lived that I couldn't fan." D A7 He said, "Get your saddle. I'll give you a chance." D In his buckboard, we hops and he drives to the ranch G I stayed until morning and right after chuck A7 D I stepped out to see if this outlaw can buck D A7 Down in the horse corral, standing alone D Is an old caballo, a strawberry roan G His legs are all spavined, he's got pigeon toes A7 Little pig eyes and a big Roman nose D A7 Little pin ears that touch at the tip D A big 44 brand was on his left hip G Ewe neck and old with a long lower jaw A7 D I could see with one eye he's a regular outlaw D A7 I gets the blinds on him and it sure is a fright D Next comes the saddle and I screws it down tight G Then I steps on him and I raises the blind A7 "Get out the way, boys, he's gonna unwind" D A7 He sure is a frog-walker, he heaves a big sigh D He only lacks wings for to be on the fly G He turns his old belly right up to the sun A7 D He sure is a sunfishing son of a gun D A7 He's about the worst bucker I've seen on the range D He'll turn on a nickel and give you some change G He hits on all fours and goes up on high A7 Leaves me a-spinning up there in the sky D A7 I turns over twice and I comes back to earth D I lights into cussing the day of his birth G I know there are ponies that I cannot ride A7 There's some of them left, they haven't all died D A7 I'll bet all my money, the man ain't alive D That'll stay with Old Strawberry when he makes his high dive ----------------------------------------------------------------- 8.) "The Master's Call" ----------------------------------------------------------------- ! Capo on 3rd fret ! Am C Am When I was but a young man,I was wild and full of fire C Am A youth within my teens, but full of challenge and desire C Am I ran away from home and left my mother and my dad F G Am I know it grieved them so to think their only boy was bad C Am I fell in with an outlaw band, their names were known quite well C Am How many times we robbed and plundered, I could never tell C Am This kind of sinful living, leads only to a fall F G Am I learned that much and more the night I heard my master call F C F C One night we rustled cattle, a thousand head or so F C Am And started then out on the trail that leads to Mexico F G C Em But a norther started blowing and lightning flashed about C F G C I thought someone was calling me, I thought I heard a shout C Em Then at that moment, lightning struck not twenty yards from me F C And left there was a giant cross where once there was a tree Am Dm And this time I knew I heard a voice, a voice so sweet and strange C Am A voice that came from everywhere, a voice that called my name C Am So frightened, I was thinking of sinful deeds I'd done C Am I failed to see the thousand head of cattle start to run C Am The cattle, they stampeded, were running all around F G Am My pony ran but stumbled and it threw me to the ground F C F C I felt the end was near, that death would be the price F C Am When a mighty bolt of lightning showed the face of Jesus Christ F G C Em And I cried, "Oh, Lord, forgive me! Don't let it happen now! C F G C I want to live for you alone! O God, these words I vow!" C Em My wicked past unfolded, I thought of wasted years F C When another bolt of lightning killed a hundred head of steers Am Dm And the others rushed on by me and I was left to live C Am The master had a reason, life is His to take or give C Am A miracle performed that night, I wasn't meant to die C Am The dead ones formed a barricade at least six or seven high C Am Right behind it, there was I, afraid but safe and sound F G Am I cried in vain for mercy, kneeling there upon the ground C Am A pardon I was granted, my sinful soul set free C Am No more to fear the angry waves upon life's stormy seas C Am Forgiven by the love of God, a love that will remain F G Am I gave my life and soul the night the Savior called my name ----------------------------------------------------------------- 9.) "Running Gun" ----------------------------------------------------------------- E E A I rode out of Kansas City, going south to Mexico B7 A E I was running, dodging danger, left the girl that I loved so A Far behind lay Kansas City and the past that I had earned B7 A E Twenty notches on my six-gun marked the lessons I had learned A E Many times, I sold my fast gun for a place to lay my head A E B7 'til the nights began to haunt me by the men that I left dead E A Couldn't stand it any longer with this life that I'd begun B7 A E So I said good-bye to Jeannie and became a running gun E A I rode into Amarillo as the sun sank in the west B7 A E My thoughts in Kansas City and the girl that I love best A As I smiled and kissed her gently and then turned away to go B7 A E Said I'd send for her to meet me when I'd reached old Mexico A E I had barely left the saddle and my foot just touched the ground A E B7 When a cold voice from the shadows told me not to turn around E A Said he knew about my fast gun, knew the price paid by the law B7 A E Challenged by a bounty hunter, so I turned around to draw E A I knew someday I'd meet him for his hand like lightning flashed B7 A E My own gun stood in leather as his bullet tore it's path A As my strength was slowly fading, I could see him walk away B7 A E And I knew that where I lay tonight he too must lay someday A E Now the crowd is slowly gathering but my eyes are growing dim A E B7 And my thoughts return to Jeannie and the home that we had planned E A Oh, please tell her, won't you mister, that she's still the only one B7 A E But a woman's love is wasted when she loves a running gun E Running gun E Running gun ----------------------------------------------------------------- 10.) "El Paso" ----------------------------------------------------------------- D Em A7 D D Em Out in the west Texas town of El Paso A7 D I fell in love with a Mexican girl Em Nighttime would find me in Rose's Cantina A7 D Music would play and Felina would whirl D Em Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina A7 D Wicked and evil while casting a spell Em My love was deep for this Mexican maiden A7 D D7 I was in love, but in vain I could tell G C G One night, a wild young cowboy came in D D7 Wild as the west Texas wind D7 Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing G With wicked Felina, the girl that I love A7 So in anger D Em I challenged his right for the love of this maiden A7 D Down went his hand for the gun that he wore Em My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat A7 D D7 The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor G C G Out through the back door of Rose's I ran D D7 Out where the horses were tied D7 I caught a good one, it looked like it could run G Up on its back and away I did ride A7 Just as fast D Em As I could from the west Texas town of El Paso A7 D Out to the badlands of New Mexico Em Back in El Paso, my life would be worthless A7 D Everything's gone in life, nothing is left Em It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden A7 D D7 My love is stronger than my fear of death G C G I saddled up and away I did go D D7 Riding alone in the dark D7 Maybe tomorrow, a bullet may find me G Tonight, nothing's worse than this pain in my heart A7 And at last D Em Here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso A7 D I can see Rose's Cantina below Em My love is strong and it pushes me onward A7 D Down off the hill to Felina I go D Em Off to my right, I see five mounted cowboys A7 D Off to my left ride a dozen or more Em Shouting and shooting, I can't let them catch me A7 D D7 I have to make it to Rose's backdoor G C G Something is dreadfully wrong, for I feel D D7 A deep burning pain in my side D7 Though I am trying to stay in the saddle G I'm getting weary, unable to ride A7 But my love D Em For Felina is strong and I rise where I've fallen A7 D Though I am weary, I can't stop to rest Em I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle A7 D I feel the bullet go deep in my chest D Em From out of nowhere, Felina has found me A7 D Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side Em Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for A7 D One little kiss and Felina, goodbye ----------------------------------------------------------------- 11.) "In The Valley" ----------------------------------------------------------------- ! Capo on 2nd fret ! A E7 A E7 A A7 D I'm as sad as the willow that weeps in the valley A E7 Since you've gone, since you've gone from my arms A A7 D I'm as sad as the cold wind that cries in the treetops A E7 A I'll be lonesome until you return E7 D Come back, come back, come back to the valley A E7 Come back to this poor cowboy's arms A A7 D I will weep like the willow that weeps in the valley A E7 A I'll be lonesome until you return E7 D Come back, come back, come back to the valley A E7 Come back to this poor cowboy's arms A A7 D I will weep like the willow that weeps in the valley A E7 A I'll be lonesome until you return ----------------------------------------------------------------- 12.) "The Little Green Valley" ----------------------------------------------------------------- B7 E E A E I see a candlelight down in the little green valley B7 E Where morning glory vines are twining 'round my door A E Oh, how I wish I were there again, down in the little green valley B7 E That's where my homesick heart will trouble me no more A B7 A B7 A E There's only one thing ever gives me consolation A E B7 And that's the thought that I'll be going back someday E A E And every night down upon my knees, I pray the Lord to please take me B7 E Back to that little old green valley far away B7 E E A E I hear a mockingbird down in the little green valley B7 E He's singing out a song of welcome just for me A E And someone waits by the garden gate, down in the little green valley B7 E When I get back again, how happy she will be A B7 A B7 A E And by a little babbling brook once more we'll wander A E B7 And in a shady nook, we'll dream the hours away E A E And I will leave all my cares behind, go where I know I'll find sunshine B7 E Back to that little old green valley far away ----------------------------------------------------------------- 13.) "The Hanging Tree" ----------------------------------------------------------------- C# C# I came to town to search for gold G#7 And I brought with me a memory D#m Fm And I seemed to hear the night wind cry F# C# "Go hang your dreams on the hanging tree F# C# Your dreams of love that could never be (never be) N.C. G#7 C# Hang your faded dreams on the hanging tree" D (The hanging tree) D I searched for gold, and I found my gold A7 And I found a girl who loved just me Em F#m And I wished that I could love her too G D But I’d left my heart on the hanging tree G D I'd left my heart with the memory (memory) N.C. A7 D And a faded dream on the hanging tree D# (The hanging tree) D# Now, there were men who craved my gold A#7 And meant to take my gold from me Fm Gm When a man is gone, he needs no gold G# D# So they carried me to the hanging tree G# D# To join my dreams and a memory (memory) N.C. A#7 D# Yes, they carried me to the hanging tree E (The hanging tree) E F To really live, you must almost die E B7 And it happened just that way with me F#m G#m They took the gold and set me free A E And I walked away from the hanging tree A E I walked away from the hanging tree (the hanging tree) N.C. B7 E And my own true love, she walked with me A G#m That's when I knew that the hanging tree F#m E Was a tree of life, new life for me A E A tree of hope, new hope for me A E A tree of love, new love for me E The hanging tree (the hanging tree) A The hanging tree (the hanging tree) E The hanging tree (the hanging tree) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 14.) "Saddle Tramp" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dm C Dm C Dm C Dm C F They call me a drifter, they say I'm no good Dm I'll never amount to a thing F Well, I may be a drifter and I may be no good Bb F There's joy in this song that I sing Dm F Saddle tramp, saddle tramp Dm Gm I'm as free as the breeze and I ride where I please F Saddle tramp Dm Saddle tramp F At night, I will rest 'neath a blanket of blue Dm Doubt if I ever will change F I might even dream of a lady I knew Bb F Might even whisper her name Dm F Saddle tramp, saddle tramp Dm Gm I'm as free as the breeze and I ride where I please F F7 Saddle tramp Bb F I might even wind up in Idaho C7 F And visit a cute little miss Bb F A sweet little someone I used to know G7 C7 And I might even stop long enough for a kiss Dm F Saddle tramp, saddle tramp Dm Gm I'm as free as the breeze and I ride where I please F Saddle tramp Dm Saddle tramp F Might even ride back through Phoenix someday Dm Might even stop for awhile F But branded, no never! I'll not be tied down Bb F Trapped by a fair lady's smile Dm F Saddle tramp, saddle tramp Dm Gm I'm as free as the breeze and I ride where I please F Saddle tramp ----------------------------------------------------------------- 15.) "El Paso (full length version)" ----------------------------------------------------------------- D Em A7 D D Em Out in the west Texas town of El Paso A7 D I fell in love with a Mexican girl Em Nighttime would find me in Rose's Cantina A7 D Music would play and Felina would whirl D Em Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina A7 D Wicked and evil while casting a spell Em My love was deep for this Mexican maiden A7 D D7 I was in love, but in vain I could tell G C G One night, a wild young cowboy came in D D7 Wild as the west Texas wind D7 Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing G With wicked Felina, the girl that I love A7 So in anger D Em I challenged his right for the love of this maiden A7 D Down went his hand for the gun that he wore Em My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat A7 D The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor D Em Just for a moment, I stood there in silence A7 D Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done Em Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there A7 D D7 I had but one chance and that was to run G C G Out through the back door of Rose's I ran D D7 Out where the horses were tied D7 I caught a good one, it looked like it could run G Up on its back and away I did ride A7 Just as fast D Em As I could from the west Texas town of El Paso A7 D Out to the badlands of New Mexico Em Back in El Paso, my life would be worthless A7 D Everything's gone in life, nothing is left Em It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden A7 D D7 My love is stronger than my fear of death G C G I saddled up and away I did go D D7 Riding alone in the dark D7 Maybe tomorrow, a bullet may find me G Tonight, nothing's worse than this pain in my heart A7 And at last D Em Here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso A7 D I can see Rose's Cantina below Em My love is strong and it pushes me onward A7 D Down off the hill to Felina I go D Em Off to my right, I see five mounted cowboys A7 D Off to my left ride a dozen or more Em Shouting and shooting, I can't let them catch me A7 D D7 I have to make it to Rose's backdoor G C G Something is dreadfully wrong, for I feel D D7 A deep burning pain in my side D7 Though I am trying to stay in the saddle G I'm getting weary, unable to ride A7 But my love D Em For Felina is strong and I rise where I've fallen A7 D Though I am weary, I can't stop to rest Em I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle A7 D I feel the bullet go deep in my chest D Em From out of nowhere, Felina has found me A7 D Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side Em Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for A7 D One little kiss and Felina, goodbye