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Made Me An Outlaw

(Brian Hendrix)

Part of my "Judge" series of old western songs that I like to write whenever an idea pops in my head. This one is about a poor man in the old west with a family to feed, and he decides that some people have too much and he doesn't have nearly enough. He decides to become an outlaw. This was a very true story for the time, though it's not based on any real-life person.

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1862, the year that I might die
It was the time that I strapped on my gun
A peacemaker it's called, and maybe that's so
It sure makes rich men do what I want

I didn't start this way, was giving praises to God
While my children got sickly and the cattle run off

(Chorus)
And it's the hard life that made me an outlaw
There was nary a job to be found
The wife and my children were hungry
With the bankers eatin' plenty downtown
Living isn't free but guns are pretty cheap
The hardest part for me was learning how to draw
No trains are safe when it comes to our plates...
And it's the hard life that made me an outlaw

My first big score was a group of fat men
Robber barons who killed off this town
I took all their gold, their money and shoes
And I laughed as they stumbled around

One said, "You're the Devil," I looked back with a grin
Said, maybe God sent me to collect on your sins

(Chorus)

The wife isn't sure, but I think she suspects
She just stands there 'tween me and my sons
But as long as their fed, a roof over their heads
Then I can die knowing my job is done

And I don't wanna go but know I probably will
When this life of mine ends, bury me on the hill

(Chorus)

© Brian Hendrix 2022

Any opinions that may be interpreted within the lyrics on this site will be those of the individual author, and do not necessarily represent those of Premium Lyrics.

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