Cattleman's Gun

He rode into town one dust storm Sheepskin cloak across his back A preacher man with kind old eyes And a mystery for a past He said he'd come to teach about The love of God But he soon learned what they were missing there Was justice and the law There was a cattleman who claimed his clan Owned all the land around And any brave fool who that might dispute He was quick to snuff 'em out He'd say, "Take my heed And you won't pay the price 'Cause honor and a name ain't worth a damn If you don't have your life" He'd say, "Ain't nobody faster than this cattle man's gun I'm a rattlesnake on the trigger Your last stand'll be lyin' in the sand Fallin' to the slam of my hammer" So one man taught forgiveness While the other taught suffering The preacher said deliverance Could be found out on their knees He said, "I know that you want justice And you want blood But believe me when I say to you Don't try be that man's judge 'Cause ain't nobody faster than that cattleman's gun He's a rattlesnake on the trigger Your last stand'll be lyin' in the sand Fallin' to the slam of his hammer" One day a young farmer brought his sons to town for feed And he noticed that the streets were quiet, and he knew what that might mean The smoke rose in the distance His farm burned to the ground He let the fury overtake him When Cattle Man came back to town Those boys ran out from behind the crowd And watched their daddy die The big man laughed and said, "Now look at that Anybody else wanna give it a try?" Well, the church doors opened With that black cloak flowin' behind the preacher's fiery eyes He said, "Your ticket to Hell is a comin' to you And I got a hollow-point to give you the ride" And the only thing faster than the Cattle Man's gun Was the preacher man's hand and finger He pulled iron from his side and let that bullet fly Beat the rattlesnake to the hammer Why the preacher embraced forgiveness Oh, they finally understood Under that sheepskin cloak of his Was a history of blood