GUNS OF JOHNNY RONDO, THE
Theme song from an episode of the TV Series 
"The High Chaparral" (1970) 
(Joe Lubin / Gerry Day / Harry Sukman)


Faron Young (TV Soundtrack) - 1970





Oh, Johnny Rondo and his son
Both headin' west without a gun
For Johnny vowed he'd kill no more
Hey, whatcha gonna do when they challenge you
Without your guns, Johnny Rondo

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Sixteen holes in sixteen souls 
>From the guns of Johnny Rondo

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Sixteen holes in sixteen souls 
>From the guns of Johnny Rondo

They rode the hills, the Brothers Tate
Released from jail, all filled with hate
For Johnny shot their brother, Joe
Hey, whatcha gonna do when they challenge you
Johnny Rondo

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Hey, whatcha gonna do when they find you
Without your guns, poor Johnny Rondo

A man has time to dream and when he's done his job
He gets to thinkin' of the past, of a lynching mob
He thinks of a boy 'bout when he was just half his age
Of a Circuit Judge, a prison and a cold, cold, cold, cold cage

The Brothers swore to track him down
And so they rode from town to town
Over mountains high, through valleys low
Hey, whatcha gonna do when they face you
Without your guns, oh, Johnny Rondo

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Sixteen holes in sixteen souls 
>From the guns of Johnny Rondo

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Sixteen holes in sixteen souls 
>From the guns of Johnny Rondo

A girl named Mary Ann came into Johnny's life
They fell in love, they were wed and were man and wife
Though she knew the life he led, he didn't know in town
A gunman's bullet meant for him would shoot sweet Mary Ann down

In Twoback Town they found a guy
They asked if Johnny had been by 
They threatened poor old Amos Brill
So, whatcha gonna do, better tell them the truth
Or you'll end up on top of Boot Hill

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Hey, whatcha gonna do when they face you
Without your guns, oh, Johnny Rondo

It all began the day Big Vince McGrawley came
And put young Johnny Rondo's Mom to an awful shame
Though a half-grown boy, one night poor Johnny rode to town
And for the first time killed a man when he shot McGrawley down

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
When you fool with lust, you bite the dust
>From the guns of Johnny Rondo

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Sixteen holes in sixteen souls 
>From the guns of Johnny Rondo

The Brothers rode to Tucson fast
They crossed the desert wide and vast
Though Johnny vowed to kill no more
Hey, whatcha gonna do when they challenge you
Without your guns, Johnny Rondo

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Will you wear a gun or start to run
When they all come, poor Johnny Rondo

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
That was long ago, are your hands too slow
To beat the draw, Johnny Rondo

When Johnny faced the Brothers Tate
He pulled his guns and tempted fate
For Johnny vowed he'd kill no more
And like he said, no blood was shed
When he beat Jed to the draw

Yes, like he said, no blood was shed
>From the cold steel lead of Johnny Rondo

A man has time to dream and when he's done his job
He gets to thinkin' of the past, of a lynching mob
He thinks of a boy 'bout when he was just half his age
Of a Circuit Judge, a prison and a cold, cold, cold, cold cage

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Now it's over and done, you don't need a gun
You're headin' west with your son, Johnny Rondo

Sixteen tried and sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Now it's over and done, you don't need a gun
You're headin' west with your son, Johnny Rondo
Johnny Rondo, Johnny Rondo


++++++++++


As recorded by FARON YOUNG for record release 
(October 1969, Monument Recording Studio, Nashville):


Sixteen tried, sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Sixteen holes in sixteen souls 
>From the guns of Johnny Rondo

It started when McGrawley came 
And put young Johnny's Ma to shame
Revenge was sweet that night in town
Hey, whatcha gonna do when they challenge you 
That night he shot McGrawley down

Sixteen tried, sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
When you fool with lust, you bite the dust
>From the guns of Johnny Rondo
Johnny Rondo

He wed a girl named Mary Ann 
A child was born, they called him Dan
But when you live a gunman's life
Hey, whatcha gonna do when they challenge you
And by mistake kill your wife

Sixteen tried, sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Sweet Mary Ann, they shot her down
And broke the heart of Johnny Rondo
Johnny Rondo

Now Johnny Rondo and his son
Both headin' west without a gun
For Johnny vowed he'd kill no more
Hey, whatcha gonna do when they challenge you
Without your guns, Johnny Rondo

Sixteen tried, sixteen died 
At the hands of Johnny Rondo
Now it's over and done
You're through with your guns
Keep headin' west with your son, Johnny Rondo 
Johnny Rondo, Johnny Rondo, Johnny Rondo






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - January 2012)