A man seeks revenge on the killers who defiled and murdered his family.

I came home lately from the war,
Unprepared for what I saw.
I'd come through horrors fit to blow your mind.
Our homestead burned down to the ground,
Possessions scattered all around.
Atrocities fit to shock all of mankind.

My mother dead with unborn child,
My sister naked and defiled.
The poor child only twelve short years of age,
Her throat was cut from ear to ear,
A knife protruding from her rear.
My mind was numb, I couldn't find a rage.

My father tied between two trees,
Gunshot wounds in head and knees.
His fingers and his toes, I couldn't find.
I buried them where they lay,
Then saddled up and rode away.
Revenge the only thought left on my mind.


I tracked four horsemen on that ride,
Their sign they never tried to hide, they Certain that they never would be caught.
But find those killers I would try,
before I mourn, before I cry.
I'd kill them dead without a single thought.


The war I'd fought, the sights I'd seen,
Had made a man, had made me mean.
Though I was still just barely twenty one.
I'd rode with Quantrill killed a few,
Out drew the best, had fist fights too,
no better shot had ever drew a gun.


I tracked those vermin three long years,
Through gunfights, brawls and women's tears.
Confident they'd never get away.
I hired my gun out when I could,
To cattlemen, who wanted blood,
For a crock of gold and a dry, warm place to stay.


I pieced together what I could,
Information bad or good.
I got a good description of the four.
They'd left a trail, of killing sprees,
Robberies, rapes and hanging trees.
They left a broad trail drenched with blood and gore.


They all got prices on their heads,
A thousand each, alive or dead.
So then I got to learn the varmint's names.
Jim Maclean, the brothers Hobb,
And evil one eyed Billy Bob.
Their evil faces pictured in black frames.

That epic journey took its toll,
I met a girl called pretty Moll.
We married and she begged we settle down.
I said I'd come back if I could,
She cried but said she understood.
I left her in a little Texas town.

On the fifth of June in eighty four,
I found the ones been searching for.
Boozing in the town of Abilene.
I entered, strolled up to the bar,
Ordered beer a nice big jar,
Then turned around and stared at Jim Maclean.

They knew that I'd been on their trail,
Track for years, you'll tell the tail.
And further-more, they'd been expecting me.
Well I don't care, I'll have my say,
and after that, I'll make them pay.
The problem was, the four were only three

I said, “Maclean, you killed my kin,
The time has come to rue your sin,
And by the way where's one eyed Billy Bob?”
He said, “why don’t you make your play?
Bob aint here he went away,
But I don't need his help to do the job.

He filled his hand with his gun,
The other two were on the run.
They dived down to the floor with guns in hand.
I made my draw and hit the floor,
And got off shots, two three or four,
And sent all three off to the promised land.


But I'd forgot ‘bout Billy Bob,
He’d snuck behind to do the job.
He fired his gun as I began to turn.
I felt the bullet, gave a sigh,
then shot him through his one good eye.
But feared the time had come for me to burn.

The doc he came to take a look
a preacher held the old good book.
They placed me on an old oak wooden door.
I said “doc have I got a chance,
To have a life, to join the dance?”
He simply shrugged and stared down at the floor.


He said, “they shot yuh in the gullet,
And that's where lies that killer's bullet,
I think you're gonna die this fateful day.
An' I aint qualified to pull it,”
a golden voice said, “hell, I'll do it.
If I don't he'll die here anyway.

I looked up through the mists of pain,
She said, “my name's Calamity Jane.”
She was the ugliest gal I ever saw.
Her breath it smelled of sour booze,
But what the hell I got to lose?
I need her help and that's for goddamn sure.

She took a knife all soaked in gin,
I yelled out when she stuck it in.
I thought, “I’m going to the promised land,”
I woke up on a bed of straw,
no longer on that old oak door.
My pretty Moll was there holding my hand.

Calamity Jane had saved my life,
I'm reunited with my wife.
I guess it's time for me to settle down.
I said a prayer for my kin,
Wept a bit right there and then.
When mended well, we headed out of town.

I'd finally settled up the score
Avenged my kin and wept some more.
And now we both were finally heading east.
We'd saved some cash and bought a store,
My lovely wife gave birth to four.
We gave our thanks for every Christmas feast.

Now I'm old, I've lived my life,
Seen some trouble lots of strife,
One thing I did has made my life complete.
I'm not too proud of all I've done,
Lived my life, a smoking gun.
But dear friends, revenge it sure was sweet.