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Marty Robbins |
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Miscellaneous |
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The Ballad Of Bill Thaxton |
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Bill Thaxton was an ex-ranger |
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One of the bravest by far |
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It's said that old Bill was the fastest man ever |
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To pin on a ranger's star |
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Stories about him were legends |
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Bill was the best of the bold |
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Bad men all feared him way back in his day |
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But he was now growing old |
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Into Bill's town rode an outlaw |
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He wore his gun low and tied down |
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He reined in his horse and announced to the crowd |
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"If you speak to me call me Sundown" |
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His clothes were all dark and fancy |
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And topped by a black leather vest |
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Somebody asked how he came by his name |
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And if he was one of the best. |
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The eyes of the tall stranger narrowed |
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He grinned like the devil possessed |
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"I never fight till the sun's going down |
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And my back is facing the West" |
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Said he wouldn't be with us tomorrow |
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He only rode in for one thing |
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He only stopped by to make Bill Thaxton die |
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So he could add to his fame. |
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"Go give Bill Thaxton a message |
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And tell him a killer's in town |
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Tell him we'll meet at the end of the street |
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Just as the sun's going down" |
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Somebody said it had been years |
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Since old Bill had toted a gun |
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Sundown replied that it wasn't his hide |
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Killing old Bill would be fun |
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The old ranger sent back his answer |
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"Tell him that I'm on my way |
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I've never ran and I'll meet this young man |
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At any time of the day" |
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Bill got there just about sunset |
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It still hung like fire in the sky |
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In just a few moments out there in the street |
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Old Bill or the outlaw would die |
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Slowly Bill slid from the saddle |
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And started to make his advance |
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The sun hit the old ranger square in the eyes |
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The shadows had started to dance |
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Bill started talking to Sundown |
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Judging his distance that way |
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Their stride was the same and at just thirty feet |
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Both of the men made their play |
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Bill's gun slipped leather like lightning |
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His forty-four spoke with a whine |
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The sun didn't bother Bill Thaxton at all |
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Because the old ranger was blind |
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Six shots delivered their message |
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The ranger had emptied his gun |
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Bill gave a sigh when there was no reply |
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He knew that once more he had won |
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The old ranger lowered his six gun |
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He just stood there starting ahead |
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Watching you'd think that old Bill didn't know |
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In front of him Sundown lay dead |
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Bill has been gone for a long time |
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But old timers still can recall |
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The day the old ranger stood up to the test |
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And proved he was best of them all |