Em
The old gunfighter on the porch
 D
stared into the sun
    C                    G
and relived the days of living by the gun
     Em
when deadly games of pride were played
     D
and living was mistakes not made
         C
and the thought of the smell of the black powder smoke
         D                         G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
 C                    G
Ah, the smell of the black powder smoke
         D                          G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Em
It's always keep your back to the sun
    D
and he can almost feel the weight of the gun
    C
it's faster than snakes or the blink of an eye
    G
and it's a time for all slow men to die
     Em
and his eyes get squinty and his fingers twitch
     D
and he empties the gun at the son of a bitch
     C
and he's hit by the smell of the black powder smoke
    D                              G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
    C                   G
hit by the smell of the black powder smoke
    D                              G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Em
Now the burn of a bullet is only a scar
D
he's back in his chair in front of the bar
C
and the streets are empty and the blood's all dried
G
and the dead are dust and the whiskey's inside
Em
so buy him a drink and lend him an ear
D
he's nobody's fool and the only one here
C
who remembers the smell of the black powder smoke
D                                  G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
C                        G
remember the smell of the black powder smoke
D                                  G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Em
He said I stood in that street before it was paved
D
learned shoot or be shot before I could shave
C
and I did it all for the money and fame
G
noble was nothing but feeling no shame
Em
and nothing was sacred but stayin' alive
D
and all that I learned from a Colt 45
C
was to curse the smell of the black powder smoke
D                                  G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
C                      G
curse the smell of the black powder smoke
D                                  G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Em
Now he's just an old man that no one believes
D
says he's a gunfighter, the last of the breed
C
and there are ghosts in the street seeking revenge
G
calling him out to the lunatic fringe
Em
now he's out in the traffic checking the sun
D
and he's killed by a car as he goes for his gun
C
So much for the smell of the black powder smoke
D                                  G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
C                            G
so much for the smell of the black powder smoke
D                                  G
and the stand in the street at the turn of a joke