Call Of The West

He got the high sign so he jumped a bus
Along the roads that wind on through
The hot Mojave and the
JerichoHed start his whole life anew
And what he left behind he hadnt valued
Half as much as some things
He never knew
Right around sundown...
He got dropped off on a street in town
Where a grey old man looked him up and down and said' Son, this aint no western movie matineeYoure a long way off from yippie-yi-yayCause I can tell at a glance youre not from round these partsYouve got a green look aboutcha––thats a gringo for startsSometimes the only thing a western savage understandsAre whiskey and rifles and an unarmed manLike you''So you gotta keep on the move!Dont let that fancy paint job fool you!'
Then the old timer pulled him close and said
Youve got a long way,
I knowYouve got a longer drive ahead
Through the bones of the buffalo
Through the claims of the western dead, and––
Just like the spokes of a wheel
Youll spin round with the rest
Youll hear the drums and the brush of steel
Youll hear the call of the west, call of the west
Youll hear the call of the west, call of the westspoken
Harshly awakened by the sound of six rounds of light-caliber rifle fire
Followed minutes later by the booming of nine rounds from a heavier rifle
But you cant close off the wilderness
He heard the snick of a rifle bolt
And found himself peering down the muzzle
Of a weapon held by a drunken liquor store owner'Theres a conflict,' he said, 'theres a conflictBetween land and peopleThe people have to goTheyve come all the way out here to make mining claimsTo do automobile body workTo gambleTake picturesTo not have to do laundryTo own a mini-bikeHave their own CB radios and air conditioningGood plumbing for sureAnd to sell Time/Life books and to work in a deliTo have a little chili every morningAnd maybe... maybe to own their own gas stations againAnd take drugsHave some crazy ***But above all, above all , to have a fair shakeTo get a piece of the rock and a slice of the pieAnd spit out of the window of your car and not have the wind blow it back in your face'
Now, from the high timberline to the deserts dry
Wholl risk dangling on some hangmans tree
To stake their claims on these prarie plains
While they say this lunch is not had for free?
Just like the spokes of a wheel
Wholl spin round with the rest
Theyll hear the drums and the brush of steel
And Ill hear the call of the west, call of the west(Yippie-yi-yo, yippie-yi-yo-ki-yay, yippie-yi-yo-ohh-ohh)
Ill hear the call of the west, call of the west(Yippie-yi-yo, yippie-yi-yo-ki-yay, yippie-yi-yo-ohh- ohh)
Ill hear the call of the west, call of the west(Yippie-yi-yo, yippie-yi-yo-ki-yay, yippie-yi-yo-ohh-ohh)
Ill hear the call of the west, call of the west(Yippie-yi-yo, yippie-yi-yo-ki-yay, yippie-yi-yo-ohh-ohh)spoken/shouted:
I used to be somebody!
I used to be somebody, do you hear me?
Do you hear me?
Ive been there!
I used to be somebody, god damn you!
Ive been there before!
Dont walk away!
Well, you––you wanted unleaded?
Unleaded––thats next pump over, so keep on movin, okay?
No, its out of order.