I rode out of Kansas City,
Going south to Mexico.
I was running, dodging danger,
Left the girl that I loved so.
Far behind lay Kansas City
And the past that I had earned,
Twenty notches on my six gun
Marked the lessons I had learned.
Many times I sold my fast gun
For a place to lay my head,
Till the nights began to haunt me
By the men that I lay dead.
Couldn't stand it any longer
With the life that I'd begun.
So I said good-bye to Jeannie
And became a running gun.
I rode into Amarillo
As the sun sank in the west.
My thoughts in Kansas City
And the girl that I love best,
As I smiled and kissed her gently,
And then turned around to go.
Said I'd send for her to meet me,
When I reached old Mexico.
I had barely left the saddle
And my foot just touched the ground,
When a cold voice from the shadows
Told me not to turn around.
Said he knew about my fast gun,
Knew the price paid by the law.
Challenged by a bounty hunter,
So I turned around to draw.
I knew someday I'd meet him,
For his hand like lightning flashed
My own gun stood in leather
As his bullet tore its path
As my strength was slowly fading,
I could see him walk away,
And I knew that where I lie today,
He too must lie some day.
Now a crowd is slowly gathering
But my eyes are growing dim,
And my thoughts return to Jeannie
And the home that we had planned.
Oh please tell her, won't you mister,
That she's still the only one,
But a woman's love is wasted,
When she loves a running gun.