Turning Outlaw

(Brian Hendrix)

I tried to put together an old-style western album. I ended up only writing a handful of songs. This is my favorite of the lot, and easily one of my top-three favorites I ever wrote. It's about a group of pioneers who went out west in search of their fortune. They didn't find it and instead went broke, became homeless, and started to starve. So they turned to the outlaw life to make some money, but got carried away with being outlaws.

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The camp's glowing embers sigh smoke and die out Like our chances in Sonora's gold mines And what's left to eat has been gone for a week Can no longer tell the women it's fine There's a train coming in, the James-Youngers' ain't here And ol' Billy's got himself two good colts One's meant for ridin', one to sway men to action We can't find a reason not to, so won't Good men who claw just might turn to outlaws... (Chorus Gauchos on horseback We ride, we ride Heading west through the canyons, we ride We'll turn desperado Stick 'em high, put 'em high And like all famous outlaws, we'll die The six-shooters spat black, like a storm rose from Hell On the gallop, they did board the train The crowd weren't friendly; hunters who did fight back And the fiery hot lead did then rain A split six ways, next pared down to five When Billy caught him a shot meant for Jim A ton of buffalo skins and Confederate bonds And the gang knew they would ride again The loot sang a song so sweet to outlaws.... (Chorus) Bank after train, and ranch after mine The gang of five through the valleys and plains Better whiskey and women, a new shine to their boots Wanted posters hung bearing their names One more big score, down San Anton' way The Federales first lay there in wait Sharpshooters with repeaters, entrenched and prepared And nary an outlaw escaped Death comes to call for those who go outlaw... (Chorus)

© Brian Hendrix 2020

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