Story Behind The Song
The death of Wild Bill Hickock
Song Description
The story of how Wild Bill Hickock died.
| Song Length |
3:13 |
Genre |
Country - General |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Composed |
Subject |
Famous People |
| Similar Artists |
The Charlie Daniels Band |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1800 - 1899 |
| |
Lyrics
Intro
1st verse
He was James Butler Hickock, but known as Wild Bill
A gunfighting gambler and seeker of thrills
He'd scouted for Custer all through the Black Hills
And showcased the wild west with Buffalo Bill
2nd Verse
He carried two pistols and wore his hair long
He'd gunned down his rivals when things had gone wrong
He knew one would come back to even the score
He never played cards with his back to the door
1st chorus
But one day in Deadwood, he let his guard down
The same day that Jack McCall rode into town
And Bill couldn't outdraw the quick hands of fate
With his back to the door holding aces and eights
3rd Verse
And as the news spread through that wild frontier town
No one could imagine that Bill was gunned down
The famous gunfighter and gambler was killed
Who'd scouted for Custer all through the Black Hills
Bridge
In old number ten, where they all knew his name
Bill shuffled the cards with Calamity Jane
And she knew he should have been facing the door
When Jack McCall's bullet knocked Bill to the floor
2nd Chorus
But Wild Bill couldn't outdraw the quick hands of fate
With his back to the door holding aces and eights
And the most feared gambler in all of the land
Never dreamed he was holding the dead man's hand