BALLAD OF BELLE STARR
(Bobby Barnett / James Hunter / Margaret Ann)


Bobby Barnett - 1974





Belle Shirley lived near Wilburton, wore a hat and shawl
Her name was well respected until she turned outlaw
Belle Shirley married Sam Starr who rode the owlhoot trail
She joined up and soon became as rough as any male
She picked up men's bad habits and was handy with a gun
She robbed and she plundered and she thought it was great fun

Belle Starr, Belle Starr, with a bullet in your back
Are you lyin' there wishin' that you'd never joined that pack

Dyin' is not easy on some forgotten trail
She wanted to be famous and she did not fail
Some claim Belle was wicked, while others called her brave
When she staged a holdup and hid out in Robbers Cave

Belle Starr became a legend, yes, that's a well known fact
But she ended up an outlaw with a bullet in her back

Belle Starr, Belle Starr, with a bullet in your back
Are you lyin' there wishin' that you'd never joined that pack






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2012)