Alive or Dead Lyrics

I swore an oath the day they pinned that star upon my chest

To do my best to always keep the law

Through bad men and worse weather I have travelled without rest

From Galveston clear up to Arkansas

The outlaws I been trackin' are the worst I've ever seen

The things they done I shudder to relate

They carved a bloody trail up from the Brazos to Sabine

And now they're headed north to flee the state

A ranger will ride to the ends of the earth

To make sure that justice is done

And dead or alive they will all meet their fates

At the end of a rope or a gun

They stopped to do some business just before they crossed the line

And they crossed a few more lines they shouldn't cross

I found what they had left behind and one was still alive

And he grabbed my coat with hands as cold as frost

Mister, he done told me, you can't help me anymore

I'm bound to cross the Jordan ere you part

But swear to me you'll get the men who done this wicked deed

And put a bullet through their evil hearts

I buried what I could before I headed on my way

Too sick to think of what these men had done

I swore another oath right then above that farmer's grave

That these bad men would not have too far to run

I guess I got too rattled or I'd gone too long awake

I didn't see it comin' when it came

The outlaws they was waitin' for me just around the bend

And there weren't nobody there to dig my grave

And now you're looking at me like you mighta seen a ghost

And I guess I couldn't blame you if you do

Them fellas that you ran with they all gave me the same look

When I run 'em down to pay their devil's due

I'll make you the same offer that I gave to all your friends

The hangman or a bullet through your head

Cause I swore an oath to keep the law and see this to the end

And I'll bring you back myself alive or dead

A ranger will ride to the ends of the earth

To make sure that justice is done

And dead or alive they will all meet their fates

At the end of a rope or a gun