The Ballad of Bill Thaxton Chords by Marty Robbins

[C] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ [A] _ [C] Bill Thaxton [G] was [C] an axe ranger, _ [F] one of the bravest by [C] far.
[G] It's said that old Bill was [Am] the fastest man ever [D]
to pin on a [G] ranger's star.
_ [C] Stories [G] about him [C] were legends, [F] Bill was the best [C] of the bold.
_ [G] Bad men all feared [C] him way back in his [G] day, but he was now [C] growing old. _ _
_ _ In through [G] Bill's town [C] rode an outlaw, [F] he wore his gun low and tied [C] down.
[G] He reined in his horse and [C] announced to [Am] the crowd,
[D] If you speak to me, call [G] me sundown.
[C] His [G] clothes were all dark [C] and fancy, [F] and topped by a black leather [C] vest.
[G] Somebody asked how he [C] came by his name, [G] and if he was one [C] of the best. _ _ _
[F] The eyes of the tall stranger _ narrowed, he grinned like the devil possessed.
_ I never fight till the sun's going down, [C] and my back is facing [F] the west.
[G] _ _ _ [C] _ _ _
_ _ Said he wouldn't [G] be with [C] us tomorrow, [F] he only rode in [C] for one thing.
He [G] only stopped by to make [C] Bill [Am] Thaxton die, [D] so he could add to [G] his fame.
Go [C] give [G] Bill Thaxton [C] a message, and [F] tell him a killer's [Am] in [C] town.
[G] Tell him we'll meet [C] at the end of the street, [G] just as the sun's going [C] down. _ _
_ _ Somebody [G] said [C] it had been years since [F] old Bill had told you to [C] go.
_ _ [G]
Sundown replied [C] that it wasn't [Am] his [D] height, and killing old Bill would be [G] fun.
[C] The old [G] ranger sent [C] back his answer, _ [F] tell him that I'm on my [C] way.
[G] I've never ran, and [C] I'll meet this young man [G]
at any time [C] of the day. _ _ _
[F] Bill got there just about sunset, it still hung like fire in the sky.
In just a few moments out there in the street, [C] old Bill or the [F] outlaw would die.
_ [Em] _ [G] _ _ [C] _ _ _
_ _ _ Slowly [G] Bill slid [C] from the saddle, [F] and started to make [Am] his advance.
[C]
The [G] sun hit the old ranger [C] square [Am] in the eyes, [D] the shadows had [G] started to dance.
[C] Bill started [G]
talking [C] to Sundown, _ [F] judging his [Am] distance that way.
[C] [G] Their stride was the same, and at [C] just thirty feet, [G] both of the men [C] made their play. _ _
_ _ Bill's gun [G] slipped [C] leather like lightning, _ [F] his forty-four spoke with [C] a whine.
[G] The sun didn't bother [C] Bill Thaxton [Am] at [D] all, cause the old ranger [G] was blind.
[C] Six shots [G] delivered [C] a message, [F] the ranger had emptied his [C] gun.
[Am] [G] Old Bill gave a sigh when [C] there was no reply, [G] he knew that once more he had [C] won. _ _ _
[Em] [F] The old ranger lowered his six gun, he just stood there staring ahead.
_ Watching you'd think that old Bill didn't know, [C] in front of him [F] Sundown lay dead.
[G] _ _ _ _ [C] _ _
_ _ _ Bill has been [G] gone [C] for a long time, [F] but old timers still can [Am] [C] recall.
[G] The day the old ranger [C] stood up to the test, [G] and proved he was best of them all.
[C] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ [N] _