The Englishman

[Verse 1] He came down from England with a dream in his eyes, Bought himself a ranch underneath the wide skies. John Tunstall was his name, and he saw something there, A restless young rider with dust in his hair. He didn't see a thief, he didn't see a gun, He saw something worth saving in a wild young one. The whole town saw Billy, but he saw Henry within, Gave him work and a horse and a place to begin. [Pre-Chorus] Maybe there's another road, Maybe there's another way, Maybe a boy with a broken past Can still change his fate. [Chorus] Ride with the Englishman, Ride while you can, He gave Billy a future, Put work in his hands. Ride with the Englishman, Under that burning sun, For once in his life Billy didn't need a gun. [Verse 2] But Lincoln County wasn't a peaceful place, Power wore a smile and a hard man's face. The House owned the sheriff, the cattle and land, And every hired gun had a price in his hand. Tunstall built a store just to break the House's hold — Some said it was justice, some swore it was gold. Then a posse caught him riding on a cold February day, And Billy watched from the ridgeline, just too far away. [Pre-Chorus] The dust turned red, The horses ran, And something broke Inside the man. [Chorus] Ride with the Englishman, Ride while you can, He gave Billy a future, Put work in his hands. Ride with the Englishman, Under that burning sun, For once in his life Billy didn't need a gun. [Bridge – stripped back] He buried a friend And picked up his gun. The peaceful road Was over and done. They gave him a badge, They gave him a cause, And Billy learned quickly The language of war. [Guitar Solo] [Slow, mournful fiddle underneath a rising Southern-rock guitar solo. Gradually becomes heavier and more aggressive.] [Final Chorus] Ride with the Englishman, Ride while you can, They left him in the dust With his blood on the land. Ride with the Englishman — Now the riding is done. They took Billy's future... So Billy took up his gun. [Outro] [Everything drops except acoustic guitar and distant harmonica.] The Englishman is gone... His boys are still alive... And somewhere in Lincoln County... The Regulators ride.