"The Ring" by Night Hawk 240

License $25

Single $1

Western gunfighter ballad in the style of Marty Robins.

ballads bluegrass classic country hillbilly western cowboy

Old time classic country, western cowboy songs, and bluegrass. Back porch style, old timey pickin' for clogging, square dancing, or just listening.

Night Hawk Bluegrass & Western Tumble Weed Tammy and Santa Fe Steve work together to bring back nostalgic western and bluegrass tunes from the past as well as new songs of their own with close ties to the past. Tumble Weed Tammy By day Tumble Weed is the kitchen administrator and manager of the kitchen at the county hoosegow. By night she plays bass fiddle, bass guitar and contributes vocals to the group. Tammy enjoys horseback riding (trail riding) and fitness and exercise when not slingin' hash or pickin' the bass. Santa Fe Steve Santa Fe hung up his badge and gun after 25 years of law man duty, keeping the peace in the dusty streets of Gladwin. When not playing Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, or singing Santa Fe is the chief operator of a wireless telegraph station (K8BZ) on the ham radio frequencies of the air waives.

Song Info

Genre

Country • Country and Western

Charts

Peak #79

Peak in subgenre #4

Author

Steve Wuelfing

Rights

2002 Steve Wuelfing

Uploaded

November 18, 2006

Track Files

MP3

MP3 3.7 MB • 128 kbps • 4:01

Lyrics

At sun down a stranger stepped into the bar room
The trail dust was heavy and darkened his face
His spurs jingled lightly, he went to the shadows
He walked mighty slow at a funeral pace

The dust rose all 'round as he slumped in the chair
His head hanging low never raised off his chest
To pay for his whiskey he tossed on the table
A ring that he fetched from inside of his vest

CHORUS
There's three fingers distance 'tween sadness and anger
And smaller than that from anger to rage
The bar tender left his drink on the table
But took not the ring it was left in its place

I chanced to engage him, pray tell me your story
I reckon a sweetheart has done you a wrong
So tell me I'll listen and be your companion
His story I wrote in the words of this song

I had me a sweetheart she promised to marry
Upon my return from the drive in the fall
I bought her this ring when I drew my wages
I planned to present it, this evening I'd call

But when I arrived the light in the window
Shown on her embracing a stranger inside
He kissed her fair cheek, she led him away
I mounted my pony and from there did ride

CHORUS:
There's three fingers distance 'tween sadness and anger
And smaller than that from anger to rage
Through clenched teeth he cursed as he grabbed for his pistol
And aimed at my chest with his eyes all ablaze

I knew he would kill me for hearing his story
But then through the door a young couple came
He turned his eyes to them so I drew my pistol
I fired the bullet that ended his pain

The  maiden ran to him and spoke to him softly
And told him the love in her heart for him burned
She sent for her brother to come for the wedding
They came searching for him, they heard he returned

Not hearing her words the cowboy lay dying
Awash in his blood and her shower of tears
She still wears the ring that the young cowboy brought her
And wed no one else though it's been twenty years

CHORUS:
There's three fingers distance 'tween sadness and anger
And smaller than that from anger to rage
So heed now my warning, don't be like the cowboy
Two lives and two loves were both wasted in vain