Well I been a-ridin' shotgun on the Houston-Dallas stage
I got me a sawed-off hogleg, twenty is the number guage
I'd shoot anybody that would try to stop this ride
A lot of outlaws tried it, a lot of outlaws died
I was sheriff down in Austin a long, long time ago
A hangin' judge was a-my best friend and he never let a poor soul go
I left that town for a better job a-ridin' on this stage
Shootin' outlaws with this gun is how I won my fame
You can ask anybody north of the Rio Grande
If they don't want no trouble, don't truck with the shotgun man
'Cause I got an itchy finger and I got an eagle's eye
I can spot a desperado with trail dust in my eyes
Well I been a-ridin' shotgun on the Houston-Dallas stage
I got me a sawed-off hogleg, twenty is the number guage
I'd shoot anybody that would try to stop this ride
A lot of outlaws tried it, a lot of outlaws died