The Legend of Tom Firestone
Tom Firestone is dead but his ghost lives on
He was a gambler who was lucky and always won
Got caught up in some trouble and spilled some blood
A cowboy pulled a gun and figured Tom would run
But Tom Firestone was a good ol’ straight shooter
That means he was bloody good with a gun
Too late for the cowboy who got a bullet in his bum
Not enough to kill the man but he couldn’t then run
So Tom sat by his side and checked the angle of the sun
Whispering, “Ya heard of Swifty Firestone?” while pointing his gun
The cowboy was in pain and could only bite his tongue
“Well listen up then, you slimy worm, I’m Tom, his son”.
Old Swifty had the reputation for being the fastest gun
He’d never been shot in his life, he was number one
So Tom made sure that everyone knew from that day on
The truth behind the old adage: Like father, like son
The incident was over and Tom walked back to the bar
One of his mates Big Jim from the country was playing guitar
Big Jim looked across the room, asking for requests
Tom was a loner although with guns he sure was the best
Here, he was among his friends and they made him feel at home
So he proceeded to request Bob Dylan’s song “Like A Rolling Stone”
Just as the words, “How does it feel, to be on your own," was sung
Who should appear but the cowboy, with a bandage on his bum
This time he had a cop with him who was already armed
The cop shouted to Big Jim “Stop playing that guitar”
At that point Tom made a move to reach for his gun
He wondered if the cop knew he was Swifty’s son
The cop didn’t know and by the time he aimed his gun
Tom had put two bullets in his arm and one in his bum
Reinforcements were quick to come to the scene of the crime
They arrested Tom and read him his rights one last time.
Three days later Tom was taken to the gallows
He was now the fall guy as well as Swifty’s son
The judge declared that he really should be hung
To stop anyone thinking about using a gun.
So now Tom Firestone's grave lies baking in the sun
Big Jim would sometimes visit, though he wasn't the only one
He would reminisce how his best mate always felt at home
When he would play Bob Dylan’s song “Like A Rolling Stone”.
© Copyright Maria D'Alessandro 2012. All Rights Reserved.