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The Last Gunfighter Ballad

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[Verse 1]
Now the Emold gunfighter on the porch 
sDtared into the sun 
and Crelived the days of lGiving by the gun 
when Emdeadly games of pride were played 
and lDiving was mistakes not made 
and the tChought of the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the sDtand in the street at the Gturn of a joke 
ACh, the smell of the bGlack powder smoke 
and the sDtand in the street at the tGurn of a joke 
[Verse 2]
And he can Emalmost feel the weight of the gun 
and it's Dalways keep your back to the sun 
and it's Cfaster than snakes or a blink of the eye 
and it's a Gtime for all slow men to die 
and his Emeyes get squinty and his fingers twitch 
and he Dempties the gun at the son of a bitch 
and he's Chit by the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the Dstand in the street at the Gturn of a joke 
Chit by the smell of the Gblack powder smoke 
and the Dstand in the street at the Gturn of a joke 
[Verse 3]
Now the Emburn of a bullet is only a scar 
he's Dback in his chair in front of the bar 
and the Cstreets are empty and the blood's all dried 
and the Gdead are dust and the whiskey's inside 
so Embuy him a drink and lend him an ear 
he's Dnobody's fool and the only one here 
who Cremembers the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the Dstand in the street at the Gturn of a joke 
Cremember the smell of the Gblack powder smoke 
and the Dstand in the street at the Gturn of a joke 
[Verse 4]
He said I Emstood in that street before it was paved 
learned Dshoot or be shot before I could shave 
and I Cdid it all for the money and fame 
Gnoble was nothing but feeling no shame 
and Emnothing was sacred 'sept stayin' alive 
and Dall that I learned from a Colt 45 
was to Ccurse the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the Dstand in the street at the Gturn of a joke 
Ccurse the smell of the Gblack powder smoke 
and the Dstand in the street at the Gturn of a joke 
[Verse 5]
EmNow he's just an old man that no one believes 
Dsays he's a gunfighter, the last of the breed 
and there are Cghosts in the street seeking revenge 
Gcalling him out to the lunatic fringe 
now he's Emout in the traffic checking the sun 
and he's Dkilled by a car as he goes for his gun 
So Cmuch for the smell of the black powder smoke 
and the Dstand in the street at the Gturn of a joke 
so Cmuch for the smell of the Gblack powder smoke 
and the Dstand in the street at the Gturn of a joke 

All chords in this song (4)

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The Last Gunfighter Ballad

by Guy Clark

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

Now the old gunfighter on the porch

stared into the sun

C G

and relived the days of living by the gun

when deadly games of pride were played

and living was mistakes not made

and the thought of the smell of the black powder smoke

D G

and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

C G

Ah, the smell of the black powder smoke

D G

and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

[Verse 2]

And he can almost feel the weight of the gun

and it's always keep your back to the sun

and it's faster than snakes or a blink of the eye

and it's a time for all slow men to die

and his eyes get squinty and his fingers twitch

and he empties the gun at the son of a bitch

and he's hit by the smell of the black powder smoke

D G

and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

C G

hit by the smell of the black powder smoke

D G

and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

[Verse 3]

Now the burn of a bullet is only a scar

he's back in his chair in front of the bar

and the streets are empty and the blood's all dried

and the dead are dust and the whiskey's inside

so buy him a drink and lend him an ear

he's nobody's fool and the only one here

who remembers the smell of the black powder smoke

D G

and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

C G

remember the smell of the black powder smoke

D G

and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

[Verse 4]

He said I stood in that street before it was paved

learned shoot or be shot before I could shave

and I did it all for the money and fame

noble was nothing but feeling no shame

and nothing was sacred 'sept stayin' alive

and all that I learned from a Colt 45

was to curse the smell of the black powder smoke

D G

and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

C G

curse the smell of the black powder smoke

D G

and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

[Verse 5]

Now he's just an old man that no one believes

says he's a gunfighter, the last of the breed

and there are ghosts in the street seeking revenge

calling him out to the lunatic fringe

now he's out in the traffic checking the sun

and he's killed by a car as he goes for his gun

So much for the smell of the black powder smoke

D G

and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

C G

so much for the smell of the black powder smoke

D G

and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

About The Last Gunfighter Ballad Chords by Guy Clark

Learn how to play The Last Gunfighter Ballad by Guy Clark with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Last Gunfighter Ballad chords”, “The Last Gunfighter Ballad guitar chords”, or “Guy Clark The Last Gunfighter Ballad chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Last Gunfighter Ballad chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Last Gunfighter Ballad lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, D, C, G.

FAQ — The Last Gunfighter Ballad by Guy Clark

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The chords for "The Last Gunfighter Ballad" show the original chord names (including Em, D, C, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.