Smackwater Jack, he bought a shotgun

'Cause he was in the mood for a little confrontation

He didn't think about the noose

He just let it all hang loose

He couldn't take no more abuse so he shot down the congregation

You can't talk to a man with a shotgun in his hand

With a shotgun in his hand



Now Big Jim the chief stood for law and order

He called for the men to surround the border

And from his bulldog mouth

As the pose headed south

Came a cry, "we got the right to clean up the streets for our wives and our daughters"

You can't talk to a man when he don't wanna understand

And he don't wanna understand



The account of the capture wasn't in the papers

But you know they hung old Smack right then and there instead of later

And the people were quite pleased

That the outlaw had been seized

And on the whole it was a very good year for the undertaker

You can't talk to a man when he don't wanna understand

When he don't wanna understand