Guy Clark - Last Gunfighter Ballad lyrics

rate me

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 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

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