Story Behind The Song
Black and white nights of cowboy dreams. This song was written and recorded at Hewn House Studios in Madison Wisconsin.
Song Description
The song is a very heavy sounding piece set in the American west during the time of Jesse James and gang. The acoustic guitar and bass set the somber tone for the song while the banjo and lead guitar sing you a sense of danger. Gospel like harmonies and tumbleweed harmonica accompanied by playful low-end lyrics move the song like a man running from the law. Old timey clapping, stomping, and "hoo hawing" alongside a drunken saloon like piano played by a howling dog tie the song together with a sense of desperation that chases a man facing justice before a court of rifles.
| Song Length |
4:21 |
Genre |
Rock - Americana, Blues - Delta |
| Tempo |
Non 4/4 |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Subject |
Crime, Theft, Justice |
Era |
1700 - 1799 |
Lyrics
The posse
They got 'em
Stood 'em right up and shot 'em
Them horses
They're comin'
Be best that we keep on runnin'
Keep low
Be silent
Them riders'll keep on ridin'
All night
Keep flyin'
'fore dawn bring a day for dyin'
We left home
One mournin'
Hopin' to beat the storm in
The banker's
Foreclosin'
Them ol' black clouds, they rolled in
No gold
No paper
Just a .45 peacemaker
Said "hey Mis-ter Banker,
Won'tcha start fillin' my bag here
With our gold
And silver
We headed up to the hills where
We felt safe
Though tired
And rested around the fire
From darkness
It rang out
The shot, it blew Johnny's brains out
The rest'us
We took flight
Through the timber on into the night
With no light
To guide us
Hounds closin' in behind us
Through branches
And thistles
You can hear them bullets whistle
They cast us
Asunder
With muzzle lightnin's thunder
We were deep
In cover
When we last heard the others