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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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