SHOTGUN SLADE
(W. Smith / Ralph Stanley)

Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys - 1971
Rambler's Choice - 1998



Pa said, "Son, this land is yours"
Was his last words, I heard
"I'm here to say I'll die today
On a strength of my Pa's words"

Our leader stepped down to face him
Said, "Son, we mean no harm
We came today to cut a right-of-way
For the railroad through your farm"

"Pa said there'd be many like you
Who'll try to steal my land
Not to beckon it, but to call each bluff
With a shotgun in my hand"

"So, take your crew and leave here"
He then warned, the young lad said
The leader laughed and went on to work
And he shot our leader dead

Shotgun, that's what they called him
He was only seventeen
But Shotgun Slade with a gun in his hand
Was the meanest man I've seen

No-one else even raised a tune
Instead we all turned tale
The Sheriff didn't even bother
To put Shotgun in jail

The land ain't deeds and records
They searched all day till night
They all agreed to let him be
To Shotgun Slade goodbye

So today way out in Texas
There's a road that's still unmade
There's never been a choo-choo train
Cross the land of Shotgun Slade

Shotgun, that's what they called him
He was only seventeen
But Shotgun Slade with a gun in his hand
Was the meanest man I've seen

Shotgun, Shotgun
But Shotgun Slade with a gun in his hand
Was the meaniest man I've seen
But Shotgun Slade with his gun in his hand
Was the meanest man I've seen
But Shotgun Slade with the gun in his hand
Was the meanest man I've seen



(Transcribed by Monique Adriaansen & Mel Priddle - July 2006)