Sonora’s Death Row

Me and the boys
We cinched up our saddles
And rode to Sonora last night
Guns hangin' proud
Daring out loud
For any one looking to fight
Card-cheats and rustlers
Would run for their holes
When the boys from the Old Broken-O
Rode up and reined
On the street that they named
"Sonora's Death Row"

Mescal is free
In Amanda's Saloon
For the boys from the Old Broken-O
Saturday nights
In the town of Sonora
Are best in all Mexico
They've got guitars and trumpets
And sweet señoritas
Who won't want to let you go
You'd never believe
Such a gay happy time
On a street called "Sonora's Death Row"

Inside Amanda's
We was a-dancin'
With all of Amanda's gals
I won some silver
At seven-card stud
So I was out doin' my pals
But the whiskey and mescal
Peso cigars
Drove me outside for some air
Somebody whispered
"Your life or your money"
I reached, but my gun wasn't there

I woke up face-down
In Amanda's back alley
Aware of the fool I had been
Rushed to my pony
Grabbed my Winchester
Then entered Amanda's again
Where I saw my partners
Twirling my pistols
And throwing my money around
Blinded by anger
I jacked the lever
And one of 'em fell to the ground

Amanda's got silent
Like night in the desert
My friends stared in pure disbelief
Amanda was kneeling
Beside the dead cowboy
Plainly expressing her grief
And as I bowed my head
A tremble shot through me
My six-gun was still at my side
I felt my pockets
There was my money
I fell to my knees and I cried

A nightmare of mescal
Was all that it was
For no one had robbed me at all
I wish I was dreaming
The sound of the gallows
They're testing just outside the wall
The mescal's still free
In Amanda's saloon
For the boys from the Old Broken-O
I'd give a ransom
To drink there today
And be free of Sonora's death row
I'd give a ransom
To drink there today
And be free of Sonora's death row