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Shades Of Gray Lyrics
We made Oklahoma a little after 3
Randy, his brother Bob, and my old GFC
We had some moonshine whiskey and some of Bob's homegrown
We were so messed up we didn't know if we were drunk or stoned
Randy was a sad sack, tall, kinda frail
Bob was a raving maniac, crazier than hell
we been kicked out of high school several years ago
for kicking over port-o-cans at the 4-H rodeo
Since they done the little dance right outside the law
popped twice in Oklahoma and once in Arkansas
and I don't know what possessed me to want to tag along, 'cause I was raised a Christian and I knew right from wrong
[Chorus ----
Right or wrong, black or white
cross the line you're gonna pay
into the dawn before the light
live or die by shades of gray]
We stole two charolais heifers
from Randy's sweetheart's pa
and sold them at the livestock sale outside of Wichita
We got nine hundred dollars and never did suspect
The world of hurt we'd be in once we cashed that check
Next day we heard the story on the local radio
And made our plans that very night to go to Mexico
And I swear we would've made it if it wasn't for the shine
I got sick about the time we crossed that Kansas line
(Chorus)
I was lying in the bar ditch praying I would die
When a light came on above us
And a voice called from the sky
A half dozen unmarked cards came screeching to a halt
They grabbed Bob he started screaming that it was my fault
There were men and dogs and helicopters flying all around
They had the brothers on the pickup hood
And me on the ground
Then Bob flew all to pieces but Randy he held tight
When a black man in a suit and tie stepped into the light
He told his men to turn us loose
And they put down their guns
He said these are just some sorry kids
They ain't the ones
(Chorus)
They left us by the roadside downhearted and alone
Randy got behind the wheel said boys I'm going home
So we turned round and faced our fate hung over but alive
On that morning Oklahoma late April nintry five
Randy, his brother Bob, and my old GFC
We had some moonshine whiskey and some of Bob's homegrown
We were so messed up we didn't know if we were drunk or stoned
Bob was a raving maniac, crazier than hell
we been kicked out of high school several years ago
for kicking over port-o-cans at the 4-H rodeo
popped twice in Oklahoma and once in Arkansas
and I don't know what possessed me to want to tag along, 'cause I was raised a Christian and I knew right from wrong
cross the line you're gonna pay
into the dawn before the light
live or die by shades of gray]
from Randy's sweetheart's pa
and sold them at the livestock sale outside of Wichita
We got nine hundred dollars and never did suspect
The world of hurt we'd be in once we cashed that check
And made our plans that very night to go to Mexico
And I swear we would've made it if it wasn't for the shine
I got sick about the time we crossed that Kansas line
When a light came on above us
And a voice called from the sky
A half dozen unmarked cards came screeching to a halt
There were men and dogs and helicopters flying all around
They had the brothers on the pickup hood
And me on the ground
When a black man in a suit and tie stepped into the light
He told his men to turn us loose
And they put down their guns
He said these are just some sorry kids
They ain't the ones
Randy got behind the wheel said boys I'm going home
So we turned round and faced our fate hung over but alive
On that morning Oklahoma late April nintry five
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According to Richard Shindell, this song is about three boys who run away from home, and are caught by the cops out looking for the Oklahoma City Bomber - the last line gives it away: "On that morning, Oklahoma, late April ninety-five." The cops realise they've got the wrong people and the boys make their way home hungover but a bit wiser.
This is a great song, we all have done things in our youth that we remember with a touch of guilt and horror. The horror is just how stupid and dangerous our actions were and how in God's green earth did we survive. When we look back, we know we know better but we did it anyway.
I’m confused why these irresponsible kids would be suspected of being the Oklahoma City Bombers because they stole and sold some cows. Any ideas?