I have a reputation that's known throughout the land
They say I'm faster on the draw than any livin' man
They call me a bad man, they say I kill for fun
They say the only thing I know is how to use a gun
But they don't know the reason they branded me as bad
It happened many years ago when I was just a lad

I rode into a cattletown a boy of twenty-three
So young and yet that very day I carved my destiny
I walked into the town saloon that sad and fateful day
And I began to gamble to pass the time away
I thought I'd play a hand or two then hit the trail again
But Lady Luck was with me and I began to win

The dealer kept on dealin', the stakes were gettin' high
And pretty soon no one left but an old cowboy and I
The minutes seemed like hours you couldn't hear a sound
We'd bet and raised until we'd laid all our money down
The cowboy smiled and showed his hand, three aces he did hold
But I laid down a royal flush and reached to claim my gold

The cowboy stood and faced me his hands hung at his hips
look of hate was in his eyes, the smile had left his lips
He said young man slap leather, I'm known for miles around
To keep my reputation up I've got to gun you down
With lightnin' speed we drew and fired, one life would be the cost
The cowboy [bad word] to the floor his reputation lost

Now years [bad word] and years have gone and many men have died
Each tried his luck and hoped he'd be the fastest gun alive
And in my many fights to live I wonder if I've won
I'm known by all the bad men, they think I kill for fun
Someday I'll meet the cowboy who's speed will meet the test
And that will end the saga of the bad man of the west