I have the reputation that's known throughout the land

They say I'm master on the draw of 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 started 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 faithful day

Then I began to gamble to pass the time away

I thought I played a hand or two then hit the thrill 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 there was no one left but an old cowboy and I

The minutes seemed like hours you couldn't hear a sound

We've been in race until we'd lay all our money down

The cowboy smiled and showed his hands three aces he did hold

But I laid down the royal flush and reached to claim my gold



The cowboy stood and faced me his hands hung on his hips

A look of hate was in his eyes and the smile had left his lips

He said young man slap leather I'm known for miles around

To keep my reputation about I got to gun you down

White lightnin' speeded through that fire one life will 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

He's tried his luck and hoped he'd be the fastest gun alive

And in my many fights to live I wondered if I'd 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 in the saga of the bad man of the west