The Ballad Of John F. Fahey

Woke up this morning to the call of the crow
Knew it would bid no good
Heard the sparrow like a baby cryin’
In the cotton wood
The sun came up I made love to my wife
Then I strapped on my gun
I had a feeling about the day ahead
It was an ominous one

Down at the station my desk was a mess
My secretary’s getting’ so old
I shuffled papers and I answered the phone
And drank my coffee cold
I’ve got a picture of my wife and my kids
Up on the gray metal file
One of my sons runs a grain elevator
The other one just runs wild

The call came in at a quarter to ten
I ran out and lit up the car
Made it to Sherburne in two minutes flat
Pulled up outside the bar
The owner was layin’ on the sidewalk cryin’
A bullet hole in his side
He said “he’s in there and he’s got a gun”
Then he just curled up and died
I ran up the alley snuck around back
Slid in the service door
There was a man in a mask with a gun in his hand
Pickin’ money up off the floor
I drew my weapon I told him “don’t move”
Or I would blow him away
I saw him turnin’ in the dim bar light
As he went to make his play

I aimed my weapon I was dizzy and sick
It’s the moment that all cops hate
But when I heard his automatic click
I didn’t hesitate
My gun went off and the man went down
Money flyin’ all over the place
When the smoke cleared I went on over
And pulled the mask off of his face

I’m John F. Fahey the chief of police
The law around this town
Today I went in and turned in my badge
And laid my weapon down
I’m John F. Fahey the chief of police
I love my family
But I ’m stayin’ in a rented room tonight
In a house on Cherry Street

Now I can’t change it
Can’t drink it away
Can’t even look at my wife
It’s as bad as things can get for a man
When he takes his own son’s life
Wish I could turn it around
I’d be there lyin’ in that pool of blood
And he’d be leavin’ town

There’s one moment in every man’s life
He can never forget
There’s one moment that won’t go away
He only lives to regret
I’m John F. Fahey
I’m the chief of police
The law around this town
Today I went in and turned in my badge
And laid my weapon down

Written by Robert Hazard - © 2004 ASCAP