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Artist/Band: 
Marty Robbins 
Lyrics for Song: Sundown (Ballad of Bill Thaxton) 
Lyrics for Album: Under Western Skies [1996]
  
               
  29252>Bill Thaxton was an ex-ranger
  One of the bravest by far
  It's said that old Bill was the fastest man ever
  To pin on a ranger's star
  Stories about him were legends
  Bill was the best of the bold
  Bad men all feared him way back in his day
  But he was now growing old.
 
 
  Into Bill's town rode an outlaw
  He wore his gun low and tied down
  He reined in his horse and announced to the crowd
  "If you speak to me call me Sundown"
  His clothes were all dark and fancy
  And topped by a black leather vest
  Somebody asked how he came by his name
  And if he was one of the best.
 
 
  The eyes of the tall stranger narrowed
  He grinned like the devil possessed
  "I never fight till the sun's going down
  And my back is facing the West."
 
 
  Said he wouldn't be with us tomorrow
  He only rode in for one thing
  He only stopped by to make Bill Thaxton die
  So he could add to his fame.
  "Go give Bill Thaxton a message
  And tell him a killer's in town
  Tell him we'll meet at the end of the street
  Just as the sun's going down."
 
 
  Somebody said it had been years
  Since old Bill had toted a gun
  Sundown replied that it wasn't his hide
  Killing old Bill would be fun
  The old ranger sent back his answer
  "Tell him that I'm on my way
  I've never ran and I'll meet this young man
  At any time of the day."
 
 
  Bill got there just about sunset
  It still hung like fire in the sky
  In just a few moments out there in the street
  Old Bill or the outlaw would die.
 
 
  Slowly Bill slid from the saddle
  And started to make his advance
  The sun hit the old ranger square in the eyes
  The shadows had started to dance
  Bill started talking to Sundown
  Judging his distance that way
  Their stride was the same and at just thirty feet
  Both of the men made their play.
 
 
  Bill's gun slipped leather like lightning
  His forty-four spoke with a whine
  The sun didn't bother Bill Thaxton at all
  Because the old ranger was blind
  Six shots delivered their message
  The ranger had emptied his gun
  Bill gave a sigh when there was no reply
  He knew that once more he had won.
 
 
  The old ranger lowered his six gun
  He just stood there starting ahead
  Watching you'd think that old Bill didn't know
  In front of him Sundown lay dead.
 
 
  Bill has been gone for a long time
  But old timers still can recall
  The day the old ranger stood up to the test
  And proved he was best of them all.
  29252> |    
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| Album Lyrics: Under Western Skies [1996] | 
 
   Marty Robbins 
"Under Western Skies [1996]"
 
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