My father had a 78 record of this song back in the forties. It was the B side of the record; on the A side was "Old Faithful".

The tune was a variant of "Tavern in the Town", but with differences.
To the best of my recollection the lyrics were as follows:-

"I've been a no-good cowboy, I joined an outlaw band.
I shot my way from Texas down to the Rio Grande.
The ladies hearts were broken, the banks were broken too
But now I'm through with all that and my outlaw days are through."

CHORUS :
"Take ma boots off when I die,
Take my boots off when I die.
When I'm happy on my wings        
(or could have been "When they hand me out my wings")
I won't need them heavy things,
So take my boots off when I die."

CHORUS: Take ma boots off when I die...

"I shot a guy in Dallas for beating up his wife.
Signor he took one look at me and said "I'll give you life."
But they found out the guy I killed was a wanted killer too.
Instead of life I got his wife, and 16 kiddies too."

CHORUS: "Take my boots off....etc."

I once sat in a poker game out on the Rio Grande,
With two gun Buck and one eyed Jack and killer Dapper Dan;
Each time I called, they pulled their guns, I heard their angels sing;
I threw my aces in and said I haven't gotta thing.

CHORUS: "Take my boots off....etc."

I'll be happy to record it solo with a guitar if wanted, but the original had a small band backing the soloist, with fiddle player etc. The fiddle playing was good.

If anybody has a copy of this record and can make an MP3 of it, I for one would be very grateful

IHT
ian@thain.com