Smackwater Jack he bought a shotgun
Cause he was in the mood for a little
confrontation
he just let it all hang loose
He didn't think about the noose
He couldn't take no more abuse,
so he shot down the congregation

You can't talk to a man with a shotgun in his hand

Big Jim the Chief stood for law and order
He called for the guard to come and surround the
border
Now from his bulldog mouth
As he led the posse south
Came the cry "We got to ride to clean up the street
For our wives and our daughters!"

You can't talk to a man when he don't want
to understand

The account of the capture wasn't in the papers
But you know, they hanged old Smack right then
instead of later
You know, the people were quite pleased
Cause the outlaw had been seized

And on the whole, it was a very good year
for the undertaker

You can't talk to a man with a shotgun in his hand