The old gunfighter on the porch
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Stared into the sun
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And relived the days of living by the gun
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When deadly games of pride were played
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And living was mistakes not made
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And the thought of the smell of the black powder smoke
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And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
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Ah, the smell of the black powder smoke
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And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
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It's always keep your back to the sun
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He can almost feel the weight of the gun
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And he's faster than snakes or the blink of an eye
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And it's a time for all slow men to die
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And his eyes get squinty and his fingers twitch
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As he empties the gun at the son of a bitch
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And he's hit by the smell of the black powder smoke
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And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
|
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Hit by the smell of the black powder smoke
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And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
|
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Now the burn of a bullet is only a scar
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He's back in his chair in front of the bar
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And the streets are empty and the blood's all dried
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And the dead are dust and the whiskey's inside
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So buy him a drink and lend him an ear
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'Cause he's nobody's fool and the only one here
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Who remembers the smell of the black powder smoke
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And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
|
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Remember the smell of the black powder smoke
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And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
|
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He said I stood in that street before it was paved
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Learned to shoot or be shot before I could shave
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And I did it all for the money and fame
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Noble was nothing but feeling no shame
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And nothing was sacred but stayin' alive
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And all that I learned from a Colt 45
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Was to curse the smell of the black powder smoke
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And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
|
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Curse the smell of the black powder smoke
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And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
|
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He's just an old man, now, that no one believes
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That says he's a gunfighter, the last of the breed
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And there are ghosts in the street seeking revenge
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Calling him out to the lunatic fringe
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Now he's out in the traffic checking the sun
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And he's killed by a car as he goes for his gun
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So much for the smell of the black powder smoke
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And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
|
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So much for the smell of the black powder smoke
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And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
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-----------------
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The Last Gunfighter Ballad
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| Steve Earle |
