They were duelin' Doolin-Dalton
High or low it was the same
Easy money and faithless women
Red-eye whiskey for the pain

Go down Bill Dalton, it must be God's will
Two brothers lying dead in Coffeyville
Two voices call to you from where they stood
Lay down your law books now, they're no damn good

Better keep on moving Doolin-Dalton
'Til your shadow sets you free
If you're fast and if you're lucky
You will never see that hanging tree

Well, the towns lay out across the dusty plains
Like graveyards filled with tombstones waiting for the names
And a man could use his back or use his brains
But some just when stir crazy Lord
'Cause nothing ever changed

'Til Bill Doolin met Bill Dalton
He was working cheap, just bidding time
Then he laughed and said I'm going
And so he left that peaceful life behind