SOMEONE SHOT THE SHERIFF DOWN
Music by Willis Lamm, lyrics by Harold Miller, Willis Lamm & Lacy J. Dalton © 2005
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There's a tale we're told 'bout a strong box full of gold
... that came from Virginia City
Packed full of nuggets galore, extracted from the ore
that was headed for the V & T.
Gunfight! Take cover, it's a gunfight
right here in the middle of town.
And when the smoke had cleared, it was just as we had feared.
Someone shot the sheriff down!
Five big bad outlaws
united in their cause,
went to rob the stage in broad daylight.
They swooped in fast and hard
and caught the drivers off their guard,
so quick no one could put up any fight.
Blacksmith Jackson Ring said he saw the whole dang thing.
and he didn't really want any trouble,
but he figured he ought to go and let the sheriff know,
so he lit out for the jail on the double.
The sheriff came on the run loading up his big six gun,
aiming to stop the men who took the loot.
And he had a perfect bead on the rider in the lead
but for some reason the sheriff didn't shoot.
Gunfight! Yes sir it was a gunfight!
right here in the middle of town.
And when the smoke had cleared, it was just as we had feared.
Someone shot the sheriff down!
The lawman did his best to dodge
all that gunfire fuselage,
but he ended up right there flat on his face.
then a couple of local men
got him to his feet again
and helped him to old Doc Miller's place.
Little Diamond Nell from the Silver Queen Hotel
was out there on that fateful day.
When the sheriff fell, she said that she'd never tell
who she saw galloping away.
She watched the outlaws flee as she hid behind a tree,
but she saw six riders now instead of five.
Guess who was ridin' that last horse, why the sheriff was, of course
and he certainly looked very much alive!
Gunfight! Yes ma'am it was a gunfight!
right here in the middle of town.
And when the smoke had cleared, it was just as we had feared.
Someone shot the sheriff down!
Schoolmarm Betty Retzer
sometimes when her husband lets her,
likes to take a wee nip now and then.
When questioned by the law
as to just what it was she she saw,
she swore she'd witnessed 15 purple men!
There's a tale that we've all told 'bout a robbery so bold
that it's talked about all over this town.
And it's still a mystery as to just how it came to be
that someone shot the sheriff down!
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