The Town of Rotgut
The town of Rotgut, clung to me
the smell, ridden deep into my lungs
the vomit of decay like a coat
that clung and wrapped around my shoulders
I could feel the bitter taste of lies
truth be told, I didn't know the truth
how many fights, how many towns
life was better out on the range
Just your horse and the lone pairy nights,
the smell of dust and cattle,
hard work, sweat and tears
yet it was honest, how long had it been.
The kids all look up to the gun slingers
we build the dreams of their respect
the singing praise of how billy the kid
could shoot three men, before their guns cleared the holster
yet it's not really like that
death and drunks should not have respect
how many times, have I held a deck of cards
sure that this time I was going to score
Only to have my world, taken away
my wife and family go hungry
because I wanted to make that score
play that game that made me rich
A fool chasing after the dreams of fools
I saw myself reflected in the glass,
a drunk that could hardly raise a toast,
the town of Rotgut, clung to me like a coat
You do not need to gamble your house to be a man,
you do not need to get drunk and fight,
a man that learns to save and build a business,
is a man that can care for his family.
Copyright © Bernard Barclay | Year Posted 2014
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