THE SHERIFF AND THE OUTLAW

THE SHERIFF AND THE OUTLAW

The Devil came to me in the fadin' light
By his sneer I knew he was itchin' fer a fight
No one was near as I looked around
But secure in the Sheriff's might I stood my ground

He stopped before me, and said with an outlaw's drawl,
"Boy yer writtin's gotta stop or yer gonna fall
I'm sick and tired of yer poetic threats
I've faced better men then you, ain't lost yet"

"Boy doncha know this world is mine?
Yer kind ain't welcome, read the sign!
'no tresspasin' is what this here sign say
So young buck, my pistol's in my hand and you'd best back away"

I looked at the horizon, and the setting sun
In the heat of the breeze I felt the One
Who held the world in His grip
His trigger finger ain't ever gonna slip

I stood my ground, looked the Outlaw in the eye
My legs were steady, I weren't afraid to die
I belonged to the Sheriff who arrested death
So's I take a long deep breath

"Devil", I says, " see this here badge upon my chest?
I'm the deputy of the one you'll never best
Yeah you stole this land so long ago
But the Sheriff's come to town and you just got to go!"

"Satan we can do this the easy way or the hard way
Y'all can walk into the sun, or I kin start to pray
But the Law of Love has arrived
And in this town you won't survive!"

"So's I'm given you till 10 ya get outta town
And I ain't ever gonna see ya around
These parts don't take kindly to Outlaws
Or trespassers like that sign you saw"

The Outlaw's mask broke into an angry rage
That lawmen have seen in every age
Quick as lightening he drew his gun
I ducked behind a wall, prayin' to the Son

The twilight was broke by gunfire
The shots seemed louder and brighter
Neither the Outlaw nor I gained the upper hand
As our battle rages across a darkened land

By dawn I was exhausted, my amm'nition all but spent
It don't take a genius to see how the battle went
And the worst was the Enemy knew too
That for me this battle was all but through

Satan cried," Lawman best surrender now, ain't no hope for you
Drop yer weapon, come out, i's let you through
Leave this town on yet horse and never come back
Ya win some, ya lose some, lets leave it at that"

But the Sheriff fought the Outlaw till death and won
I prayed silent like as I put a last round in my gun
A round special, called Saving Grace
I drawed a bead on the Outlaw's face

Suddenly I heard a mighty sound
As the Sheriff rode into town
The Outlaw turned several shades of white
I knowed he's no longer fight

The Sheriff rode up to me; in my hour of need
Smiled and dismounted His stead
Walked across the dusty street
Where the Outlaw bowed at His feet

The sheriff locked the Outlaw in the county jail
There he sits in his lonely cell
There he'll be etern'y last
Against the Lord he dared trespass
AMEN