Vigilante Man lyrics

Song information

Artist: Woody Guthrie
Album: Dust Bowl Ballads (Rounder Records)

Lyrics

Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I been hearin' his name all over the land

Well, what is a vigilante man?
Tell me, what is a vigilante man?
Has he got a gun and a club in his hand?
Is that is a vigilante man?

Rainy night down in the engine house
Sleepin' just as still as a mouse
Man come along an' he chased us out in the rain
Was that a vigilante man?

Stormy days we passed the time away
Sleepin' in some good warm place
Man come along an' we give him a little race
Was that a vigilante man?

Preacher casey was just a workin' man
And he said, "unite all you working men."
Killed him in the river some strange man
Was that a vigilante man?

Oh, why does a vigilante man
Why does a vigilante man
Carry that sawed-off shot-gun in his hand?
Would he shoot his brother and sister down?

I rambled 'round from town to town
I rambled 'round from town to town
And they herded us around like a wild herd of cattle
Was that the vigilante men?

Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I've heard his name all over this land