Marty Robbins - Mr. Shorty lyrics

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Nobody knew where he came from<br />

They only knew he came in<br />

Slowly he walked to the end of the bar<br />

And he ordered up one slug of gin.<br />

<br />

Well, I could see that he wasn't a large man<br />

I could tell that he wasn't too tall<br />

I judged him to be 'bout five-foot three<br />

And his voice was a soft Texas drawl.<br />

<br />

Said he was needin' some wages<br />

'Fore he could ride for the west<br />

Said he could do most all kind of work<br />

Said he could ride with the best.<br />

<br />

There in his blue eyes was sadness<br />

That comes from the need of a friend<br />

And tho' he tried, he still couldn't hide<br />

The loneliness there, deep within.<br />

<br />

Said he would work thru the winter<br />

For thirty a month and his board<br />

I started to say where he might land a job<br />

When a fellow came in thru the door.<br />

<br />

And I could tell he was lookin' for trouble<br />

From the way that he came stompin' in<br />

He told me to leave Shorty there by himself<br />

Come down and wait on a man.<br />

<br />

The eyes of the little man narrowed<br />

The smile disappeared from his face<br />

Gone was the friendliness that I had seen<br />

And a wild look of hate took its' place.<br />

<br />

But the big one continued to mock him<br />

And he told me that I'd better go<br />

Find him a couple of glasses of milk<br />

Then maybe Shorty would grow.<br />

<br />

When the little man spoke, there was stillness<br />

He made sure that everyone heard<br />

Slowly he stepped away from the bar<br />

And I still remember these words.<br />

<br />

Oh! it's plain that you're lookin' for trouble<br />

Trouble's what I try to shun<br />

If that's what you want, then that's what you'll get<br />

'Cause cowboy, we're both packin' guns.<br />

<br />

His hand was already positioned<br />

Feet wide apart on the floor<br />

I hadn't noticed but there on his hip<br />

Was a short-barreled Bass Forty-Four.<br />

<br />

It was plain he was ready and waitin'<br />

He leaned a bit forward and said<br />

When you call me Shorty, say Mister, my friend<br />

Maybe you'd rather be dead.<br />

<br />

In the room was a terrible silence<br />

As the big one stepped out on the floor<br />

All drinkin' stopped and the tick of the clock<br />

Said death would wait ten seconds more.<br />

<br />

He cussed once or twice in a whisper<br />

And he said with a snarl on his lips<br />

Nobody's Mister to me, little man! <br />

And he grabbed for the gun on his hips.<br />

<br />

But the little man's hands was like lightning<br />

The Bass Forty-Four was the same<br />

The Forty-Four spoke and it sent lead and smoke<br />

And seventeen inches of flame.<br />

<br />

For the big one had never cleared leather<br />

Beaten before he could start<br />

A little round hole had appeared on his shirt<br />

The bullet went clear thru his heart.<br />

<br />

The little man stood there a moment<br />

Then holstered the Bass Forty-Four<br />

It's always this way so I never stay<br />

Slowly he walked out the door.<br />

<br />

Nobody knew where he came from<br />

They won't forget he came by<br />

They won't forget how a Forty-Four gun<br />

One night made the difference in size.<br />

<br />

As for me, I'll remember the sadness<br />

Shown in the eyes of the man<br />

If we meet someday, you can bet I would say<br />

That it's me, Mr. Shorty, your friend.