Colter tunes his guitar down 1 whole step, if you do too, Capo on the 3rd. Chords relative to the capo.
[Verse 1]
C F C
Wild Bill was born in Illinois on dry and fertile land
F D7 G
Pioneer of pistoleers and a dead shot with each hand
F C F G
Claimed he was the quickest, there's few who'd ill-agree
C F C
Fewer yet to saw this plainsman draw, still breathe like you and me
[Verse 2]
C F C
He led a stagecoach freight team in his early days of life
F D7 G
One evenin' on the Western Trail, Bill took the air of night
F C F G
And who should come upon him, but a bear whom he'd awoke
C F C
Wild Bill produced his bowie knife and fashioned a new coat
[Verse 3]
C F C
Kansas prairies he knew well and wild Missouri too
F D7 G
Come 1861, Bill donned the Union blue
F C F G
Not unlike his daddy, he'd see no man in bonds
C F C
Every man in Jimmy Lane's brigade, of Hickok they were fond
[Verse 4]
C F C
While a marshal in Abilene many Texans came to call
F D7 G
Phil Coe told John Wes Hardin, "Wild Bill has got to fall
F C F G
"He's a cruel and brutish yankee, and if you don't then I will"
C F C
Wild Bill put down Phil Coe, Wes Hardin's livin' still
[Verse 5]
C F C
He met his fate in Deadwood inside Tom Nuttall's place
F G
Amidst a game of poker, holdin' Aces and two Eights
F C F G
When up stepped from behind him the Coward, Jack McCall
C F C
The slug ripped through his auburn hair, poor Wild Bill never saw