The Last Gunfighter Ballad

Now 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
 And he can almost feel the weight of the gun
 And as always, keep your back to the sun
 And 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 his gun at the son of a bitch
 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
 And 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
 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