Bad Man

(album: Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie - 1969)

I have the reputation that's known throughout the land
They say I'm faster on the draw than any living man
They call me a bad man they say I kill for fun
They say the only thing I know is how to use a gun.
But they don't know the reason they branded me as bad
It started many years ago when I was just a lad

I rode into a cattle town a boy of twenty three
So young and yet that very day I carved my destiny
I walked into the town saloon that sad and fateful day
Then I began to gamble to pass the time away
I thought I'd play a hand or two and hit the trail again
But Lady Luck was with me and I began to win

The dealer kept on dealing the stakes were getting high
And pretty soon there was no one left but an old cowboy and I
The minutes seemed like hours you couldn't hear a sound
We'd bet and raised until we'd laid all our money down
The cowboy smiled and showed his hand
Three aces he did hold
But I laid down a royal flush and reached to claim my gold

The cowboy stood and faced me his hands hung at his hips
A look of hate was in his eyes, the smile had left his lips
He said young man slap leather I'm known for miles around
To keep my reputation up I've got to gun you down
With lightning speed we drew and fired
One life to me the cost
The cowboy tumbled to the floor his reputation lost

Now many years have come and gone
And many men have died
Each tried his luck and hoped he'd be the fastest gun alive
And in my many fights to live I wondered if I'd won
I'm known to all as bad man they say I kill for fun
Someday I'll meet a cowboy who's speed will meet the test
And that will end the saga of the bad man of the west...