Song Description
This is a true story from a book 'The Bloody Years' about a famous feud in DeWitt County Texas. The famous gunfighter John Wesley Harding was involved as well.
| Song Length |
4:04 |
Genre |
Folk - Americana, Folk - General |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Language |
English |
| |
Lyrics
The Bloody Years
The war was over, except for the losing, but hatred was flooding its banks
Bill Taylor had friended the rebels, Bill Sutton served with the Yanks
Sutton got a deputy badge by a crooked sheriff, he had an eye on settling the score
By eighteen hundred sixty five, most felt lucky to be alive, but Bill Sutton - he wanted more
His right hand men were Dobie and Cotton, with mean streaks and blazing fast guns
They'd string up a slave if he worked for a rebel or kill a grey coat for fun
There'd been dustups before but the gas met the match at a Dewitt County house on the plain
When Taylor's two brother's in law were shot dead and horse dragged by Sutton's gang
Most people heard of the Hatfields and McCoys, but no feud came close to the suffering and tears
Of the Taylor-Sutton men, women, girls, and boys - the South Texas Bloody Years
For fourteen years the feud raged on with nearly 300 dead by gun or rope
Neither Taylors nor Suttons dared to be alone, neither family met eyes or spoke
The two patriarchs - met on a steamer at Indianola's port of call
With his wife beside him and his best friend, Bill Sutton was ready to draw
He heard a shout - "You've killed your last Taylor", then saw a Smith and Wesson flame
He pushed his wife away, but on that day Sutton took one to the heart, one to the brain
Most people heard of the Hatfields and McCoys, but no feud came close to the suffering and tears
Of the Taylor-Sutton men, women, girls, and boys - the South Texas Bloody Years
Down in Dewitt County there still lays the graves of many from battle that ensued
The history is written on the crumbling tombstones 'bout the Taylor-Sutton feud
Most people heard of the Hatfields and McCoys, but no feud came close to the suffering and tears
Of the Taylor/Sutton men, women, girls, and boys - the South Texas Bloody Years
The Bloody Years ....