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.