verse 1
Em
The old gunfighter on the porch
D
stared into the sun
C G
and relived the days of living by the gun
Em
when deadly games of pride were played
D
and living was mistakes not made
C
and the thought of the smell of the black powder smoke
D G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
C G
Ah, the smell of the black powder smoke
D G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
verse 2
Em
It's always keep your back to the sun
D
and he can almost feel the weight of the gun
C
it's faster than snakes or the blink of an eye
G
and it's a time for all slow men to die
Em
and his eyes get squinty and his fingers twitch
D
and he empties the gun at the son of a bitch
C
and he's hit by the smell of the black powder smoke
D G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
C G
hit by the smell of the black powder smoke
D G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
verse 3
Em
Now the burn of a bullet is only a scar
D
he's back in his chair in front of the bar
C
and the streets are empty and the blood's all dried
G
and the dead are dust and the whiskey's inside
Em
so buy him a drink and lend him an ear
D
he's nobody's fool and the only one here
C
who remembers the smell of the black powder smoke
D G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
C G
remember the smell of the black powder smoke
D G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
verse 4
Em
He said I stood in that street before it was paved
D
learned shoot or be shot before I could shave
C
and I did it all for the money and fame
G
noble was nothing but feeling no shame
Em
and nothing was sacred 'sept stayin' alive
D
and all that I learned from a Colt 45
C
was to curse the smell of the black powder smoke
D G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
C G
curse the smell of the black powder smoke
D G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
Verse 5
Em
Now he's just an old man that no one believes
D
says he's a gunfighter, the last of the breed
C
and there are ghosts in the street seeking revenge
G
calling him out to the lunatic fringe
Em
now he's out in the traffic checking the sun
D
and he's killed by a car as he goes for his gun
C
So much for the smell of the black powder smoke
D G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
C G
so much for the smell of the black powder smoke
D G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke