The sun was scorching down on him,
As he rode into the town.
Was around a quarter after noon,
As he slowly looked around.

His bay mares head was hanging low,
He had worked her far too much.
Her coat looked almost black with sweat,
But, she still obeyed his every touch.

The reason for him being there,
Stood the other side of town.
Drinking whisky in O'Malley's bar,
Was the outlaw Jessie Brown.

The town's folk watched him ride on by,
No one dared to ask him why.
He had chosen to be there that day,
For revenge was in his eye.

Six years this man had worn a badge,
Was a Ranger straight and tall.
Yesterday that badge was taken off,
Now the job was personal.

For his pretty wife and son of five,
Had been riding into town.
On the morning stagecoach from the west,
'Till Jessie Brown had gunned them down.

As he aimed the gun at the child's head,
The coach driver heard him say.
"Where's your daddy now then little boy?"
Then he took his life away.

The sign above the hitching rail,
Read, "O'Malley's fine Saloon"
So he tied his mare up good and tight,
And prepared to meet his doom.

This outlaw was known far and wide,
As was the speed that he could draw.
But a father's love's from deep inside,
So he walked on through the door.

The piano stopped as he appeared,
And you could not hear a sound.
For the silence there was deafening,
As the outlaw turned around.

Jessie dropped the glass from in his hand,
As it flew down to his gun.
But he hadn't even lifted it,
When the fathers work was done.

Jessie seemed to stare a second,
Disbelief at what he saw.
But the single shot had found his heart,
And his body hit the floor.

The father slowly scanned the room,
Then he turned to walk away.
When a voice from on the other side,
Was clearly heard to say.

"Hey mister don't you walk on out,
There's a whiskey here from me"
"And from what I saw, it was self defence,
Anybody disagree?"

"Hell No! That's just the way it was"
An old prospector added in,
Then he turned towards the old spittoon,
To fire his chewin-bacca in.

Another man stood from his chair,
And holding out his hands.
Said, "I'd like to thank you Ranger,
'Cos every Pa here understands.

"You see the telegraph it beat you here,
And there's a creed we all obey.
There aint a cowboy would have stood by him,
Once he sent your son away"

"We know you've nothing left back home,
How'd you like to start anew?
I've the sheriffs' shield here in my hand,
'Would look mighty fine on you"