Karaoké Mr. Shorty Marty Robbins

Nobody knew where he came from they only knew he came in

Slowly he walked to the end of the bar and he ordered up one slug of gin

Well, I could see that he wasn't a large man

I could tell that he wasn't too tall

I judged him to be 'bout five-foot three and his voice was a soft Texas drawl

Said he was needin' some wages 'fore he could ride for the west

Said he could do most all kind of work said he could ride with the best

There in his blue eyes was sadness that comes from the need of a friend

And tho' he tried he still couldn't hide the loneliness there deep within

Said he would work thru the winter for thirty a month and his board

I started to say where he might land a job when a fellow came in thru the door

And I could tell he was lookin' for trouble from the way that he came stompin' in

He told me to leave shorty there by himself come down and wait on a man

The eyes of the little man narrowed his smile disappeared from his face

Gone was the friendliness that I had seen and a wild look of hate took its' place

But the big one continued to mock him and he told me that I'd better go

Find him a couple of glasses of milk and then maybe Shorty would grow

When the little man spoke there was stillness he made sure that everyone heard

Slowly he stepped away from the bar and I still remember these words

Oh it's plain that you're lookin' for trouble trouble's what I try to shun

If that's what you want then that's what you'll get 'cos cowboy we're both packin' guns

His hand was already positioned his feet wide apart on the floor

I hadn't noticed but there on his hip was a short-barreled

Bass Forty-Four

It was plain he was ready and waitin' he leaned a bit forward and said

When you call me Shorty say Mister, my friend maybe you'd rather be dead

In the room was a terrible silence as the big one stepped out on the floor

All drinkin' stopped and the tick of the clock said death would wait ten seconds more

He cursed once or twice in a whisper and he said with a snarl on his lips

Nobody's Mister to me little man and he grabbed for the gun on his hips

But the little man's hands was like lightning the Bass Forty-Four was the same

The Forty-Four spoke and it sent lead and smoke and seventeen inches of flame

For the big one had never cleared leather beaten before he could start

A little round hole had appeared on his shirt the bullet went clear thru his heart

The little man stood there a moment then holstered the Bass

Forty-Four

It's always this way so I never stay slowly he walked out the door

Nobody knew where he came from they won't forget he came by

They won't forget how a Forty-Four gun one night made the difference in size

As for me, I'll remember the sadness shown in the eyes of the man

If we meet someday you can bet I would say that it's me, Mr. Shorty your friend