Sheriff John just wandered into town for a cripple and a thief A black man and a woman and a lonesome guy me Just trying to raise the stakes so we can be
The dust balls were blowing, the sun it cracked the Where could a crime like this be found? Good people of the town to sheriff John Brown Go and shoot those invalids right
But I said, "Sheriff no don't you be It could to you now"
"What exactly they done?", said sheriff John Brown "For me to shoot those poor old bastards Then out stepped the with his hand upon his heart you see that I've been chosen by God"
And I tell you for nothing, "That crowd ain't no good" standing out just like a sore thumb "But yes I do agree", the lawyer on the left I'd kill them now if it up to me
But I said, "Sheriff no you be cruel It happen to you now"
Out into the wilderness the sheriff he did Heading for the river bridge the laws you must Two became three, I knew he would come for me The day grew and I began to tire
John Brown's face appeared from the fire "Boys and girls what doing, donna be so free The people of the talk disapprovingly Don't want to take you in, not up to me"
I said, "Sheriff no you be cruel It could to you now"
But guilt and doubt they cloud his He thought,' exactly is the law?' He even know what it stood for And who the cost for all that is lost?
to me an impossibility And who says whats right and who says what's Who benefits? It sure me And out stepped the saying, "We mean you no harm Come and I will read your palm"
But I said, "Sheriff no don't you be It happen to you now"
That night he left a long road back without a rest Knowingly he questioned the lawyer on the Bet you've gone and set them sinners "Well yes", the sheriff, "They done nothing wrong"
"My God, why can't you see?" And the preacher shot him and his head it hit the ground The last ever see of poor John Brown And the moral of this it is simple it is plain People always someone to blame
But I said, "Sheriff no you be cruel It happen to you now"
But I said, "Sheriff no don't you be It happen to you now"