Ben Graves

While ridin’ out of Emmitsburg
I chanced to meet an old friend
Said he’d been ridin’ for years and years
He thought there’d be no end.

I asked him what his business was
He said he’s lookin’ for Ben Graves
Graves, a man well known around
For killin’ but not bein’ brave

CHO
Been ten years since the Bighorn fight
Where Graves turned and ran
Been ten years he’s runnin’ from fright
No place to take a stand.

Down inside of Cutler’s Saloon
On a hot and so still noon
Graves lay drunk against the bar
Knowin’ the end was comin’ soon

His faded blue shirt with yellow stripes 
Was stained with booze and blood
But not the blood of Bighorn days
To say he’d done it right

CHO

His rusty Colt sat loaded on the bar
As we came through the door
Mac, my friend, did not wait
His hate knew no end.



Before a fly had time to move
Mac had done what he came for
In a cloud of smoke, blood and booze
Ben Graves lay dead upon the floor.