Retribution

Songtext

There's a full moon rising in the cold night sky, Kiss your darlin' on the head as you say goodbye, Strap your six gun on your hip and saddle up your steed, Cos you're headin' in to town and someone's gonna bleed. Two weeks passed since that fateful day, When the Parker boys took her while she knelt to pray, They took their turns and left her lyin' there, She was barely breathing but they didn't care. They took off ridin', in to town they went, Laughin' and drinkin', it's our money they spent, When I got home I found her beaten and broke, Couldn't look at me, barely spoke. "GOD!" ... "WHY'D YOU DO THIS?" I cried, Cos in my arms she passed away, my sweetheart died. [Chorus – huge, heavy] RETRIBUTION! It's comin' your way. No more waitin', this here's the day. You had your fun, you had your high, But I'm comin', boys... It's time to die! [Verse] Hooves hit hard on the old dirt track, Moon at my shoulder, no turnin' back, The Parker brothers, drinkin' at the Saloon, I swear these fuckers will be dead by noon. Pushed through the doors and the whole room froze, Everyone gasped as the Parker boys rose, Old Sam Parker sipping from his beer, Grinned through his glass, said, "You shouldn't be here." I said, "You remember that woman outside of town? The one you beat, then left on the ground? She was my whole world, she was my life..." Sam reached for his gun — I said, "Think twice." [Chorus] RETRIBUTION! It's comin' your way. No more runnin', you answer today. You had your fun, you had your high, Now draw your guns, boys... It's time to die! [Instrumental – galloping drums, dirty banjo and electric guitar] [Verse – gunfight] A chair hit the floor and the first gun cracked, I drew from my hip and I fired right back, Sam went down and Billy drew fast, Two shots rang — And Billy breathed his last. Johnny came runnin' from behind the bar, His bullet caught me, left a bloody scar, I turned and fired as I fell to one knee, "That one's for the woman you took from me!" One Parker left at the top of the stairs, Smoke filled the room as he stood starin' there, He yelled, "You're a dead man!" and started down, I cocked my six gun... "Then I'll see you underground." [Break – gunshots / silence] One shot his way... One shot mine... His hit the wall — And I hit him between the eyes. [Chorus – slower, heavier] RETRIBUTION! You brought it this way. Four men came drinkin'... None leave today. You had your fun, you had your high, Now the Devil's waitin'... And that ain’t no surprise. [Instrumental – slow mournful harmonica/fiddle] [Final Verse] Morning broke as I rode back home, Four men dead, I was now alone, Blood on my shirt and smoke in my clothes, Where this road ends, only the good Lord knows. I found my darlin' where I'd laid her to rest, Still wearing the locket, she wore on her chest, I carried her gently out under that tree, No more suffering, she'd forever be free. I dug that grave with my own two hands, While sunrise burned across the land, Laid her down softly, kissed her goodbye, Then covered my darlin' beneath that morning sky. Set down my shovel and fell to my knees, No sound but the wind moving through the trees, I whispered, "They're gone now... they paid what was due. But I'd trade every one of 'em... Just to have back you." [Final Chorus – very slow, deep gravelly bass] RETRIBUTION... It's finished today. Four souls to Hell... But the pain's here to stay. I won my vengeance... But I lost my life, Cos revenge can't bring back... The Love of my life. [Outro – spoken, almost whispered] Sleep easy, darlin'... They can't hurt you no more. [Single harmonica note – fade out]