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The Choice

from Western Movies by Railtown

/

about

Larry used to stay with me when he'd come to Nashville (back when I still lived in Nashville anyway). I always loved writing with Larry . . . On this tune, he had this riff and most of the progression . . . and I had harbored a desire to write a song about a gunslinger . . . For some reason, I've always had a fascination with gunslingers. Actually, we ended up making this guy an EX-gunslinger, if one can REALLY be an 'EX-gunslinger' . . . and I suppose that's part of what the song is about. He's hard-edged to be sure, but he's just trying to live and let live - if he can! The song, of course, immediately fit in with the Western Movies concept (well, okay . . . it was part of the inspiration that eventually led to the Western Movies concept, to be more exact). We wrote the lyrics very much as a team, and I added the intro and 'outro' later (I'll let you in on a secret - Larry hates that part!)

lyrics

THE CHOICE

I killed a man in self-defense thirteen years ago
His brother tracked me down and died, my fame began to grow
Men sought me out to test their skill because they knew my name
I did what I had to do, their blood spilled on my shame

I had to run, I changed my name and moved from town to town
Till a woman's love and tender touch made me stop and settle down
Now here you come out of nowhere, trying to drag me through my past
Standing there with your shaky hands, bragging that you're fast

The choice is yours, make up your mind
But if you draw your gun
One of us will wind up
Lying in the dust
So will this be your dying day?
It's up to you now boy
I suggest you walk away
While you still have the choice

If you choose to draw on me, Ill shoot you full of lead
Then I'll be on the run again, and just as good as dead
Even if you are the best, there's no way you'll ever win
'Cause if I die, then it's your turn, to be killed or kill again

The choice is yours, make up your mind
But if you draw your gun
One of us will wind up
Lying in the dust
So will this be your dying day?
It's up to you now boy
I suggest you walk away
While you still have the choice

While you still have the choice


Written by Larry Vail and Jeff Stewart
Copyright 1999 Larry Vail / Blue Clover Music (ASCAP)

credits

from Western Movies, released May 10, 2020
Guitar/Vocals by Jeffrey Scott Stewart

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all rights reserved

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about

aka Jeffrey Scott Stewart Houston, Texas

Originally from Southern California, and now - after sixteen years of "seasoning" in Nashville, Tennessee - based in Houston, Texas.

Jeff has had his songs heard in movies, documentaries, television and radio from Australia to Seattle to Switzerland.

Live performances feature a wide variety of original music using guitar, tenor banjo, accordion, mandolin, violin, ukulele and harmonica.
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