"The Gunfighter’s Song"
performed by Mel McDaniel
transcribed by Diron Ahlquist
PLAY IN ¾ TIME WITH EITHER A NICE, STEADY "PLUCK, STRUM, STRUM" PATTERN OR A
FREE STRUM.
[C]Year on the tombstone reads [G]eighteen-o-[Am]five,
[F]Says that he [G]died by the [C]gun.
On a cool purple evenin’ in [G]New Mexi[Am]co,
A [F]prairie of [G]shadows and [C]stone.
With the [Am]coyotes howl and the [G]lonesome wind,
His [F]mournful story is [C]told.
He [Am]longs to ride and be [G]free again,
Not [F]owin’ the Devil his [G]soul.
And the legend grows [C]old.
CHORUS
So [F]let’s sing a [G]song for him [C]now boys,
As he [F]lays in his [G]stony [C]grave.
Let’s [F]drink one more [G]round to our [C]friend in the [F]ground.
The [C]gunfighter’s gone but the [G]legend re[C]mains.
[C]Dry tumbleweeds roll [G]over his [Am]grave,
[F]Chased by the [G]hot desert [C]wind.
The afternoon trembles [G]under the [C]sun,
As the [F]wild [G]dust devils [C]spin.
Then [Am]twilight falls [G]once again,
[F]Moonlight’s silver and [C]gold.
The [Am]desert cools with the [G]fadin’ sun,
A[F]nother day’s grown [G]cold.
And the legend grows [C]old.
CHORUS x 2
The [C]gunfighter’s gone but the [Em]legend re[Am]mains.
