Bad Man Blunder lyrics

Badman`s Blunder
The Kingston Trio

Peak chart position # 37 in 1960
Written by Cisco Houston and Lee Hays

TRANSCRIBER`S NOTE: Slightly different format used here. Most lyrics are sung
by the lead only, except in chorus, where the lead does the responses in
(parentheses)

Well, early one evenin`, I was roamin` around
I was feelin` kinda mean, I shot the deputy down
Strolled along home and I went to bed
Well, I laid my pistol up under my head

He strolled along home (I took my time)
And he went to bed (thought I`d sleep some)
And he laid his pistol (Big 22)
Up under his head (I keep it handy)

Well, early in the morning about the break of day
I figured it was time to make a getaway
Steppin` right along but I was steppin` too slow
Got surrounded by a sheriff down in Mexico

He was steppin` right along (I were hot-footin` it)
But he was steppin` too slow (it was a sultry day)
Got surrounded by a sheriff (boxed in)
In Mexico (I didn`t even have a chance to see the country)

When I was arrested I didn`t have a dime
The sheriff says `Son, you`re ridin` free this time`
`` Where you`re goin` you won`t need a cent`
` `cause the great state of Texas gonna pay your rent`

`cause where you`re goin` (I think he means jail)
you won`t need a cent (well, he knows I`m broke)
`cause the great state of Texas (Yippee!)
gonna pay your rent (I`m mighty grateful, fellas)

Well, I didn`t have a key and I didn`t have a file
Naturally I stayed around until my trial
Judge was an old man, ninety-three
And I didn`t like the way the jury looked at me

Well, the judge was an old man (TOO old!)
Ninety-three (Entirely too old)
(I didn`t like the way the jury looked at me)
SPOKEN: (I think they were suspicious)

BACKUPS: The judge and the jury, they did agree
They all said `Murder in the first degree`
The judge set sayin`

SPOKEN in an older voice: `I don`t know whether to hang `im or not but this here
killing of deputy sheriffs has just naturally got to stop.` (You got a point there,
judge!)

It was a most unsatisfactory trial
They gave me ninety-nine years on a hard rock pile
Ninety and nine on the hard rock ground
All I ever did was shoot the deputy down

Ninety and nine (It COULD`VE been life)
On the hard rock pile (they mighta hung me)
And all he ever did
Was shoot a deputy do-o-o-o-own

(This whole thing has sure been a lesson to me!)

(Bang! You`re dead!)
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