Guy Clark
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Last Gunfighter Ballad

Read Last Gunfighter Ballad lyrics by Guy Clark on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

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Page type: lyric reference Artist: Guy Clark Canonical path: /guy-clark/last-gunfighter-ballad Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

Last Gunfighter Ballad

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The old gunfigter on the porch stared into sun

And relived all the days livin' by the gun

Deadly games of pride were played and livin' was mistakes not made

And he thought of the smell of the black powder smoke

And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

The thought of the smell of the black powder smoke

And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

And he can almost feel the weight of that gun

And it's always keep your back to the sun

And it's faster than snakes or a blink of the eye

And it's a time for all slow men to die

His eyes get squinty and his finger switch

And he empties his gun at the son of a bitch

And he's hit by the smell of the black powder smoke

And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Hit by the smell of the black powder smoke

And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Now the burn of a bullet is only a scar

And he's back in his chair in front of a bar

And the streets're empty and the blood's all dried

The dead 're dust and and the whiskey's inside

So buy him a drink and lend him an ear

He's nobody's fool and he's the only one here

Who remembers the smell of the black powder smoke

And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Ah remember the smell of the black powder smoke

And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Said I stood in that street before it was paved

I learned the shoot or be shot before I could shave

And I did it all for the money and the fame

Noble was nothing but feelin' no shame

And nothing was sacred but stayin' alive

And all that I learned from my Colt 45

Was to curse the smell of the black powder smoke

And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Curse the smell of the black powder smoke

And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Now he's just an old man that nobody believes

Says he's a gunfighter the last of this breed

And there's ghosts in the street seekin' revenge

Callin' him out to the lunatic fringe

Now he's out in the traffic down checkin' the sun

And he's killed by a car as he goes for his gun

So much for the smell of the black powder smoke

And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

So much for the smell of the black powder smoke

And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

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Who performs "Last Gunfighter Ballad"?

Guy Clark performs "Last Gunfighter Ballad", and this lyric page sits inside the Guy Clark catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Last Gunfighter Ballad"?

Yes. The related section below points to Carpenter and Better Days with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Guy Clark?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Guy Clark's lyric pages.

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