Ballad of Jim Bowie

Old John Maddox Samuels

Met for a duel

As the story tells

Each man missed the other

And the duel was done

But someone had to die

In the hot summer sun

More shots were fired, and the duel did end

Jim Bowie came up forward to meet his friend

And up came the friends of old dark Tom

Every man seeking to do some harm

Down every holler, down every stream

Way down a riverboat to New Orleans

All the way from Natchez up to St. Louis

You can still hear the tale

Of old Jim Bowie

General Cooney

Said to Colonel Crane

Who was sore afraid

To see him again

"Perhaps it's time

To settle our score"

Crane drew his pistol

And he fired once more

Shot missed Cooney but struck old Jim

While the Colonel reloaded, Cooney fired at him

Hit him in the arm, but Crane didn't rest

Killed General Cooney with a bullet to the chest

Down every holler, down every stream

Way down a riverboat to New Orleans

All the way from Natchez up to St. Louis

You can still hear the tale

Of old Jim Bowie

Jim Bowie rose up

Came afer Crane

Who dealt him a blow

With a pistol to the brain

Then came the Major

Norris Wright

Drew his pistol

And he joined the fight

Major tried to shoot Jim Bowie but missed

Drew out a sword and stabbed him in the chest

Bowie pulled him down upon his knife

Major Norris Wright did lose his life

Down every holler, down every stream

Way down a riverboat to New Orleans

All the way from Natchez up to St. Louis

You can still hear the tale

Of old Jim Bowie

He took the blade

And gripped it by the hand

He was shot once again

Before he could stand