Bandolier

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Bandolier, you are clear to the border But I fear you are not comin' back When you ride 'long the ridge, 'long that box canyon ditch As far as the old railroad track [Verse 2] They are moving the troops by that railroad And the Gatling guns have been oiled And the dust has been mixed with the blood, soil and ticks But his bandage is pure white and boiled [Verse 3] And you know where that train stops for water For those are the rules of the game And the lanterns that stand made of old tin cans Show the glint of his teeth in a frame [Verse 4] You have thirty shells left for your rifle And the one in the chamber has a name There's no clean way to die that the women won't cry When it spreads in a dark ruby stain [Verse 5] And the years have created that border Forced to finish what they started down here So you're goin' off half-cocked with your safety unlocked And the froth of a full bandolier Bandolier [Verse 6] And the years've not been kind to you either Though kind's not a word that you pack 'Long with words like revenge, anger and stench You can shoot but you know they'll shoot back [Verse 7] And you put down your spare horse this morning And one's not enough for the chase When they head for the smoke when those boxcars unload And you know that they well know your face [Verse 8] Then it's kill and be killed in your turn For the devil's dismal stock of returns You've been down to the crossroads to sell your soul But he weren't buyin' what you had to burn [Verse 9] Where are those that you rode with your young days? Spanish Johnny, Diamond Jim, that gringo They've grown bitter and drunk and given up their guns And they never once called you amigo [Verse 10] You used to have to take four shots of mescal And say prayers to Saint Clare out of fear So how can you be so happy in a dirty serape With a grimy old bandolier? Bandolier [Outro] Bandolier Bandolier Bandolier Bandolier