SILVERADO
(George McCorkle)

The Marshall Tucker Band - 1981


As a young man, I was raised by a man of the cloth
And taught to judge men equal and not to find their faults
Until one day, I witnessed a tragic thing
A man laid on the church steps, slain

And as the smoke cleared, the tall man he holstered his gun
The bright day ended and a cloud covered the sun
I found hate in my heart that I'd never known before
I'd see this man hang and that's the one thing that I know for sure

Silverado, you'll hang by the hangman's tree
And you'll die in misery

His face remained in my eyes as I grew through the years
I practised shooting every day while trying to hold back the tears
I traveled through Oklahoma and Texas to the Rio Grande
Knowing when I met Silverado, the Lord would steady my hand

Silverado, you'll hang by the hangman's tree
And you'll die in misery, ye-eah

Then the day came, I'd dreamed of for years
Silverado stood before me and my heart it pounded in fear
As he turned and saw my eyes, he knew why I'd come
Then, without the blink of an eye, he went for his gun

As our guns did fire, tears come to my eyes
When he collapsed before me, I dropped my gun and sighed
Silverado, you'll hang by the hangman's tree
And you'll die in misery

Silverado, you'll hang by the hangman's tree
Yes, you'll die in misery


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