Story Behind The Song

Like a lot of young men who survive armed conflict, the man in this song came out of the Civil War with only one marketable skill; killing for money. He has no home, no loyalties, and no conscience. In the course of carrying out an assassination, he gets blood on his boots, which marks the end of another man's life.

Song Description

Country ballad influenced by the Western revivalists like Marty Robbins, or Tex Ritter before him. The song follows the traditional Country Waltz format, with outstanding performances on guitar, mandolin, and pedal steel guitar.

Lyrics

BLOOD AND DUST (GUNHAND'S LAMENT)
Mark Patterson © 2025

Takes a man who don't bend don't break nor back down
To survive the hard lessons the territories teach
But the pilgrims kept comin'
'Cause a man needs to own somethin'
'Til they pushed their luck westward beyond the law's reach

Now there's blood on my boots dried in the dust
And you don't want to ask me about how it got there
If he wants to get paid a man does what he must
And when the smell of black powder hangs thick in the air
Well that's when he's bound to learn the hard truth
That it ain't about gold gunplay nor glory
And written in blood on these dusty old boots
Is the sorrowful ending to another man's story

I saw real bravery in the war to end slavery
Know less about life than I do about death
Been riding so long now
Ain't nowhere I belong now
But I'll answer to no one 'til I draw my last breath

I'm not haunted by lost souls over deeds that I've done
Even now in this dark cell before my last dawn
'Cause I've seen enough killin'
To know heroes from villains
Comes down to which side of the badge you are on

Now there's blood on my boots dried in the dust
And you don't want to ask me about how it got there
If he wants to get paid a man does what he must
And when the smell of black powder hangs thick in the air
Well that's when he's bound to learn the hard truth
That it ain't about gold gunplay nor glory
And written in blood on these dusty old boots
Is the sorrowful ending to another man's story
The sorrowful end to another man's story