I have a reputation that's known throughout the land They say I'm faster on the draw than any livin' man They call me a bad man, they say I kill for fun They say the only thing I know is how to use a gun But they don't know the reason they branded me as bad It happened many years ago when I was just a lad
I rode into a cattletown a boy of twenty-three So young and yet that very day I carved my destiny I walked into the town saloon that sad and fateful day And I began to gamble to pass the time away I thought I'd play a hand or two then hit the trail again But Lady Luck was with me and I began to win
The dealer kept on dealin', the stakes were gettin' high And pretty soon no one left but an old cowboy and I The minutes seemed like hours you couldn't hear a sound We'd bet and raised until we'd laid all our money down The cowboy smiled and showed his hand, three aces he did hold But I laid down a royal flush and reached to claim my gold
The cowboy stood and faced me his hands hung at his hips A look of hate was in his eyes, the smile had left his lips He said young man slap leather, I'm known for miles around To keep my reputation up I've got to gun you down With lightnin' speed we drew and fired, one life would be the cost The cowboy crumbled to the floor his reputation lost
Now years have come and years have gone and many men have died Each tried his luck and hoped he'd be the fastest gun alive And in my many fights to live I wonder if I've won I'm known by all the bad men, they think I kill for fun Someday I'll meet the cowboy who's speed will meet the test And that will end the saga of the bad man of the west