album cover
Decent Man
1,808
On Tour
Americana
Decent Man was released on August 20, 2021 by New West Records as a part of the album The Horses and the Hounds
album cover
Release DateAugust 20, 2021
LabelNew West Records
LanguageEnglish
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM93

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
James McMurtry
James McMurtry
Vocals, Guitar, Lead Vocals
Akina Adderly
Akina Adderly
Harmony Vocals
Betty Soo
Betty Soo
Harmony Vocals
Bukka Allen
Bukka Allen
Organ
Daren S. Hess
Daren S. Hess
Drums
David Grisson
David Grisson
Guitar
Kenny Aronoff
Kenny Aronoff
Percussion
Loren Gold
Loren Gold
Piano
Sean Hurley
Sean Hurley
Bass Guitar
Stephen Barber
Stephen Barber
Wurlitzer Piano
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
James McMurtry
James McMurtry
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Ross Hogarth
Ross Hogarth
Mixing Engineer, Producer
Pat Manske
Pat Manske
Engineer
Joseph Holguin
Joseph Holguin
Engineer
Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Engineer
Peter Brownlee
Peter Brownlee
Engineer

Lyrics

He was more than just a decent man
Best friend I ever had
When you're shooting at a coffee can
A .38 don't kick that bad
But it kicks right through my bones
Every second of every day
Clacking by like cobblestones
Under broken wheels
And if the truth be known
I wasn't doing that well
I wasn't paying attention
I brought it on myself
And I blamed it on the gods
That seemed to smile on everybody else
I got so inside out
I didn't know what was real
My fields are empty now
My ground won't take the plow
It's washed down to gravel and stones
It's only good for burying bones
I took the pistol off the wall
Somebody hollered, "Put it back
Sit down, Dad, before you fall down
You got no earthly use for that"
But I slipped out the kitchen door
Saddled up the swayback mule
Cinched her tight and swung on board
Rode off like a drunken fool
Rode right on off the world
Just like it never mattered none
There wasn't nothing but me and the hurt
And the biting cold and the heft of that gun
And the pocket of a sheepskin coat
Moonlight in a madman's eye
For the unfairness of it all
Surely something had to die
My fields are empty now
My ground won't take the plow
It's washed down to gravel and stones
It's only good for burying bones
He came out in the lantern light
His face in the flash was the last I saw
Of the world when it was still right
I didn't watch him fall
I knew I'd hit him good
Twice in the chest without a thought
Turned the mule towards the county seat
Like I knew I ought
My fields are empty now
My ground won't take the plow
It's washed down to gravel and stones
It's only good for burying bones
My fields are empty now
My ground won't take the plow
It's washed down to gravel and stones
It's only good for burying bones
Lola comes to visit
Just nothing I can say
We sit here of an afternoon
'Til it's time for her to go away
She rides home on that same mule
That brought me to this place
Don't know how she even stands
To look upon her daddy's face
He was more than just a decent man
Best friend I ever had
When you're shooting at a coffee can
A .38 don't kick that bad
Written by: James McMurtry
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