Ballad of a Small Man lyrics

He was a small man but this man was all man

He was accustomed to danger

He knew the badlands, he knew every bad man

This man was a ranger, ranger, ranger

Into the township of Pecos he rode

Everyone noticed this stranger

Plainly it showed in the way that he rode in

This man was a ranger, ranger, ranger

Everyone watched as he climbed from his horse and walked by

Every eye dropped to the gun hanging low on his side

The silence was broken, the ranger had spoken

And these were his words

I've trailed an outlaw for thirty-six days

I'm twenty hours behind him

He's here in town so I'll just be around

Long as it takes me to find him, find him, find him

Slowly he turned and he looked down the street

Then he looked back to the crowd

Somethin' about him left no room to doubt

He spoke very little but loud, but loud, but loud

If it is pity you have for my size

Save it don't waste it, my friend

This equalizer I have on my hip

Makes me as big as the next man, next man, next man

Then from a door came a curse and they knew at a glance

The outlaw had stepped to the street to begin his advance

Women grabbed children, men grabbed their wives

And they ran from the street

Even the soft, gentle breeze became still

Death had a minute to wait

Two hands would dive for a Colt forty-five

One hand would come up too late, too late, too late

"Go for your gun", was the outlaw's remark

"Tomorrow you'll sleep neath the stone."

The ranger replied, "There'll be plenty of time

After you go for your own, your own, your own."

All of a sudden it happened

Both of then grabbed for a gun

Both clearing leather, both fired together

Everyone thought it was one gun, one gun, one gun

A forty-five slug hit the outlaw and spun him around

His life was over, he died on his way to the ground

To our surprise we watched as the ranger

Took one faltering step

Slowly he crumbled and fell to the ground

A bullet was deep in his side

He looked all around but he spoke not a word

A faint little smile and he died, he died, he died

• Artist:Marty Robbins
• Album:All Around Cowboy