An unwilling participant in a gunfight becomes a reluctant hero. The smell of gunsmoke punctuates the tragedies that are forced upon him. Recorded at Bob Kelly Studio in Las Vegas, Nv.
alternativeindierockacoustic
I had an unplugged demo on "Gunsmoke" but then decided to add bass and percussion. I think I want to add a violin to this recording and Las Vegas has some fine fiddlers. However, their insistence on being paid is a temporary problem.
Lyrics
GUNSMOKE
ONCE A MAN SMELLS GUNSMOKE
HE’S SNIFFED A BIT OF HELL
CAUSE BRIMSTONE HAS TO BE IT’S BLOODY BROTHER
I SAW A MAN SHOOT DOWN A MAN
AND I LOOKED THE OTHER WAY
BUT THEN HE THOUGHT FOR FUN HE’D SHOOT ANOTHER
BUT I GOT OFF A LUCKY SHOT
AND PUT THAT OUTLAW DOWN
AND PEOPLE IN THE TOWN BEGAN TO CHEER ME
BUT NOW THE YOUNG GUNS COME AROUND
AND TRY TO CALL ME OUT
AND EVERYBODY ELSE JUST SEEMS TO FEAR ME
I TRY TO TALK THE YOUNG GUNS DOWN
AND TARNISH THE ALLURE
AND TRY TO SAVE A LIFE TODAY
IT MIGHT BE MINE OR YOURS
AND SO FAR WHEN I DRAW MY GUN
I GUESS IT’S LUCK OR FATE
THAT I’M THE ONE LEFT STANDING
ON THE LINE OF LOVE AND HATE
MY CLOTHES SMELL LIKE GUNSMOKE
AND MY HEART FEELS LIKE HELL
CAUSE I JUST HAD TO SHOOT A BOY OF NINETEEN
THESE PISTOLS MAKE ME DIRTY
THEY’RE FILTHY IN MY HANDS
I WONDER IF I’LL EVER GET MY SOUL CLEAN
SALVATION’S JUST ANOTHER WORD
THAT I CAN BARELY SPELL
BUT I COULD SURELY USE SOME SAVING GRACE
CAUSE EVERY GUNSHOT SOUNDS TO ME
LIKE A TOLLING BELL
THAT’S RINGING TO REMIND ME
OF EVERY DEAD MAN’S FACE
ONCE A MAN SMELLS GUNSMOKE
HE’S SNIFFED A BIT OF HELL
CAUSE BRIMSTONE HAS TO BE IT’S BLOODY BROTHER
Words and Music by Jay Ramsey
