KEEP CALM AND RELOAD (Alt 1)

Intro Six men outside. Five rounds left. Well… Nobody’s perfect.

Verse 1 Dust came walking down the street Wearing badges, boots and pride Saw the whole damn town reflected In the glass across my eyes They brought rifles, rope and warrants Brought a preacher for my soul I took one last drag and told him, “Save your breath—I’ve heard it all” Every coward gets courageous With a crowd behind his back Every loud mouth finds religion When he hears that hammer crack I don’t panic, I don’t hurry I don’t waste a word or round When the whole world comes to take me I just set my whiskey down

Pre-Chorus Let ’em talk Let ’em boast Let ’em swear I’m good as gone I’ve outlived better men than them By staying goddamn calm

Chorus Keep calm and reload Let the cold steel turn Some men need a warning Some bastards never learn Keep calm and reload Don’t waste your breath on fear When trouble comes in numbers Make every answer clear Keep calm and reload Smoke hanging low I don’t need a miracle— Just one more round to go KEEP CALM! RELOAD!

Verse 2 They said, “Come out with your hands high” Like I owed ’em that much grace I could see their nervous horses In the mirrors on my face One man shouted through the window That my final hour had come I said, “Son, you talk too goddamn much For a man behind a gun” I’ve been hunted through the badlands I’ve been dragged beneath the law I’ve had righteous men condemn me For the things they never saw But the truth don’t wear a white hat And the law ain’t always right Sometimes peace is just the silence After everybody picks a side

Pre-Chorus Let ’em circle Let ’em wait Let ’em think they’ve got control A steady hand beats angry men And patience beats them all

Chorus Keep calm and reload Let the cylinder turn I gave mercy every chance That mercy never earned Keep calm and reload No shaking in my bones They brought half the damn county I still came here alone Keep calm and reload Smoke hanging low You don’t have to like the ending— You just need to know They always ask how many men I’ve buried. Funny. Nobody asks how many tried.

Bridge I never wanted to be feared I just refused to live afraid Every enemy I ever had Was mostly one he’d made They mistook my quiet for weakness Mistook my patience for a chain Till the calm man in the corner Made ’em choke upon my name So when your back is to the wall And every road is closed Don’t pray for hands to save you Keep calm… And reload

Breakdown One for the liar One for the thief One for the man Who mistook calm for weak One for the devil Still calling me home And one for the bastard Who won’t leave me alone Keep calm and reload Let the whole damn skyline burn I’ve learned more from losing blood Than righteous men have learned Keep calm and reload Look trouble in the eye You can’t choose who comes against you Only how you meet the fight Keep calm and reload No begging, no retreat I’ve got thunder in the chamber And the grave beneath my feet Keep calm and reload Till the smoke becomes the dawn They came to write my ending— I corrected every one KEEP CALM! STAND YOUR GROUND! RELOAD! ONE MORE ROUND!

Outro Six men came looking for trouble. Should’ve brought seven.

Find this song on YouTube