Baxter Black: The legend of bad guys

The West was peppered with bad guys whose conduct was misunderstood

Yet, today we treat them as heroes like they were a Robin Hood.

We tend to portray them as victims, who, through no fault of their own

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Grew up to be convicts and perverts, but, hey, they were raised in a broken home.

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They’d rob from the wealthy, it’s storied. They’d plunder and steal for a lark.

Then pass out gift boxes on weekends to orphans and nuns in the park.

They’d burn down a village but were sorry, and regretted things done even worse.

Darlin’ Nell got caught in the crossfire, they cried as they lifted her purse.

They never intended to hurt folks, but accidents happen, they do!

Now we speak of them all with compassion, ‘cause bad guys have feelings, too.

We sing of their legends in ballads, we lift up their deeds in a song

And although it sounds so romantic, to me it seems dreadfully wrong.

‘Cause Pancho Villa was a narcisstic bag of sheep pellets. So was Billy the Kid.

Jessie James became a hero for the foul evil deeds that he did.

The bandit Joaquin was a horse thief, Claude Dallas a cowardly swain,

The Sundance Kid was a scumbag who got his thrills robbin’ the train.

The Godfather made folks an offer he said they couldn’t refuse

If they did he’d take them out swimming, wearing their concrete shoes

Bonnie and Clyde were both psychos, Pretty Boy Floyd was a rat

And Pancho Villa was a narcisstic bag of sheep pellets, but I guess I done told you that.