Ballad of Big Bill McGuire

McGuire was a big man

On the Alabama shore

When he got to drinkin'

Well, he only wanted more

And at the bottom of a bottle

He found his loaded gun

And headed back to Mobile

To put a man on the run

The Ballad of Big Bill McGuire

Now, Samuel was a good man

He never meant nobody harm

But you never cross ole Big Bill

With his sister on your arm

McGuire grabbed his pistol

It was a silver .32

And he shot a man in cold blood

Just to settle the dispute

The Ballad of Big Bill McGuire

Big Bill went a runnin'

Right into the sheriff's arms

A confession for some brandy

But he don't seem too alarmed

Sent to die in prison

For the blood on his hands

Oh, but Big Bill kept a grinnin'

Poor Sam never stood a chance

With only one regret

Before they sentenced him to life

"I wished I shot 'em five times

"Instead of only twice"

The Ballad of Big Bill McGuire