what a man I was

1 I shot off his left ear
2 then his right,
3 and then tore off his belt buckle
4 with hot lead,
5 and then
6 I shot off everything that counts
7 and when he bent over
8 to pick up his drawers
9 and his marbles
10 (poor critter)
11 I fixed it so he wouldn't have
12 to straighten up
13 no more.

14 Ho Hum.
15 I went in for a fast snort
16 and one guy seemed
17 to be looking at me sideways,
18 and that's how he died---
19 sideways,
20 lookin' at me
21 and clutchin'
22 for his marbles.

23 Sight o' blood made me kinda
24 hungry.
25 Had a ham sandwich.
26 Played a couple of sentimental songs ...
27 Shot out all the lights
28 and strolled outside.
29 Didn't seem to be no one around

30 so I shot my horse
31 (poor critter).

32 Then I saw the Sheerf
33 a standin' at the end a' the road
34 and he was shakin'
35 like he had the Saint Vitus dance;
36 it was a real sorrowful sight
37 so I slowed him to a quiver
38 with the first slug
39 and mercifully stiffened him
40 with the second.

41 Then I laid on my back awhile
42 and I shot out the stars one by one
43 and then
44 I shot out the moon
45 and then I walked around
46 and shot out every light
47 in town,
48 and pretty soon it began to get dark
49 real dark
50 the way I like it;
51 just can't stand to sleep
52 with no light shinin'
53 on my face.

54 I laid down and dreamt
55 I was a little boy again
56 a playin' with my toy six-shooter
57 and winnin' all the marble games,
58 and when I woke up
59 my guns was gone
60 and I was all bound hand and foot
61 just like somebody
62 was scared a me

63 and they was slippin'
64 a noose around my ugly neck
65 just as if they
66 meant to hang me,
67 and some guy was pinnin'
68 a real pretty sign
69 on my shirt:
70 there's a law for you
71 and a law for me
72 and a law that hangs
73 from the foot of a tree.

74 Well, pretty poetry always did
75 make my eyes water
76 and can you believe it
77 all the women was cryin'
78 and though they was moanin'
79 other men's names
80 I just know they was cryin'
81 for me (poor critters)
82 and though I'd slept with all a them,
83 I'd forgotten
84 in all the big excitement
85 to tell 'em my name

86 and all the men looked angry
87 but I guess it was because the kids
88 was all being impolite
89 and a throwin' tin cans at me,
90 but I told 'em not to worry
91 because their aim was bad anyhow
92 not a boy there looked like he'd turn
93 into a man---
94 90% homosexuals, the lot of them,
95 and some guy shouted
96 "let's send him to hell!"

97 and with a jerk I was dancin'
98 my last dance,
99 but I swung out wide
100 and spit in the bartender's eye
101 and stared down
102 into Nellie Adam's breasts,
103 and my mouth watered again.


Do livro "The days run away like..."