I’D RATHER BE AN OUTLAW

TRAINS.  THE DISTANT SOUND OF WHISTLES,

I THINK IT’S GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY.

THEY SAY IT’S COMIN’ THROUGH HERE,

THEY’LL TAKE MY HOME AWAY,

BUT IF THEY TRY SOMEONE’S GONNA PAY.

LORD, I’VE NEVER SINNED,

A PEACEFUL MAN I’VE BEEN,

LIVIN’ BY THE BOOK IN EVERY WAY.

BUT WHEN THEY CAME THIS MORNIN’

FOR THE LAND MY DADDY CLAIMED,

I LOOKED THEM IN THE EYES AND SAID WITH PAIN.

I’D RATHER BE AN OUTLAW,

IF I LEAVE THIS LIFE BEHIND.

I’M NOT TOO GOOD AT BEING MEAN,

I’VE ALWAYS ACTED KIND.

IF I WAS AN OUTLAW,

WITH TWO GUNS SET TO FIGHT.

RAISIN’ CAIN, I KNOW YOUR NAME,

AND I’LL GET YOU IN THE NIGHT,

RIDIN’ HIGH, RIDIN’ HIGH, RIDIN’ HIGH.

THEY HELD ME AT GUNPOINT,

AND FORCED ME OFF MY LAND.

THEY SET THE CATTLE LOOSE,

AND THE HOUSE AFLAME.

I FLED UP TO THE MOUNTAINS,

TO THE TOP OF DEVIL’S HILL,

THERE I SWORE MY VENGEANCE ON THOSE TRAINS.

STAYED AWAKE THAT NIGHT,

MADE PLANS TO SET THINGS RIGHT.

HOW MUCH DO THEY THINK A MAN CAN TAKE?

I’VE ALWAYS HELD MY DIGNITY,

FOUGHT FOR WHAT BELONGED TO ME.

THOUGHT AGAIN ‘BOUT THE WORDS I TOLD THOSE MEN.

THE TRAIN PULLED OUT NEXT MORNING,

HEADIN’ DOWN THE TRACK,

GAININ’ SPEED AND ROLLIN’ ROUND THE BEND.

NO ONE SAW ME WAITIN’

WITH THAT STICK OF DYNAMITE.

NO ONE EVER SAW THAT TRAIN AGAIN.

NOW I’M ON THE RUN, LIVIN’ BY MY GUN,

HIDIN’ FROM THE LAW DAY TO DAY.

AND EVEN IF THEY STOP ME

WITH A BULLET IN MY HEART,

SOMEONE ELSE WILL LOOK AT THEM AND SAY.