Marty Robbins – The Ballad Of Bill Thaxton (Guitar)

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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 legend

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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.

C           F
        The eyes of the tall stranger narrowed

   F
He grinned like the devil possessed

 F 
"I never fight till the sun's going down

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And my back is facing the We--------st"

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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"

C        F
         Bill got there just about sunset

   F
It still hung like fire in the sky

   F
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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Cause 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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Old 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

   F
He just stood there staring ahead

F
Watching you'd think that old Bill didn't know

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In front of him Sundown lay dea-------d

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Bill has been gone for a long time

    F                      C
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.