The Ballad Of Big Joe Poem by Loyd C Taylor Sr

Breathen' hard to the saloon he ran,
Gulpin' a strong drink right down;
'Now listen, you folk had better run,
Fer Big Joe's a'comin to town! '
'Fer Big Joe's a'comin to town! '

'Whos Big Joe? ' The freightened barkeep asked,
With a puzzled look on his face.
'He's the biggest, meanest man alive,
He's comin' to tear up this place! '
'He's comin' to tear up this place! '

He's the toughest man you'll ever know,
He's the badest dude, thumbs down!
So when the town folk all got wind of this,
They went runnin' out of town!
They went runnin' out of town!

B'fore that barkeep could up'n leave,
He heard a skin crawlin' sound;
Chains and spurs... cussin' and fussin'...
So to the door he spun round!
So to the door he spun round!

There stood a big and ugly cowpoke,
A man that could do some harm;
He had fists as big as cannon balls,
And cannons he had for arms!
And cannons he had for arms!

His grey beard was stringy and filthy,
Not a hair grew on his head;
He come a'trompin' right up to the bar,
With face a'glowin' blood red.
With face a'glowin' blood red.

His breath smelled like an ole polecat's fumes,
His fire eyes stared fast and long;
He growled out as he slammed two bits down,
'Give me whiskey... make it strong! '
'Give me whiskey... make it strong! '

The barkeep turned around real slow-like,
Took a gallon from the shelf;
Then this whale of a man drank and drank,
'Til nary'a drop was left.
'Til nary'a drop was left.


He wiped his mouth on his dirty sleeve,
His hand fell down to his gun;
Said a'glarin' down at the barkeeper;
'Mister, ain't yah gon'a run? '
'Mister, ain't yah gon'a run? '

The barkeep stood froze like a statue,
His knees knock 'n loud that day;
He swallowed hard, then sent up a prayer,
'Oh God save me, this I pray.'
'Oh God save me, this I pray.'

Then this giant yelled; 'I need a strong horse,
Yeah, one that won't slow me down!
And barkeep, you'd better come with me...
Fer ain't you heard?

Big Joe's a'comin' to town!
Big Joe's a'comin' to town! '


© Loyd C. Taylor