(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance

James Taylor

When liberty valance came to town
the women folk would hide
they'd hide
when liberty valance walked around
the men would step aside
because the point of a gun
was the only law that liberty understood
when it came to shooting
straight and fast
he was mighty good

From out of the east a stranger came
a law book in his hand
a man the kind of man
the west would need to ease a troubled land
because the point of a gun
was the only law that liberty understood
when it came to shooting
straight and fast
he was mighty good

Many a man would face his gun
and many a man would fall
the man who shot liberty valance
he shot liberty valance
he was the bravest of them all

Now the love of a woman can make a man
stay on when he should go
stay on
just trying to build a peaceful life
where love is free to go
but the point of a gun
was the only law that liberty understood
when it came to shooting
straight and fast
he was mighty good

Alone and afraid she prayed that he'd
return that fateful night
that night
when nothing she said could keep her man
from going out to fight
but the point of a gun
was the only law that liberty understood
when the final showdown came to pass
a law book was no good

Out in the sun two shots rang out
the shots made liberty fall
the man who shot liberty valance
he shot liberty valance
he was the bravest of them all