Lyric discussion by tdouglaspainting 

Cover art for The Sheriff lyrics by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

The lyrics are off a little bit, though.

It goes-

Big Kid Josie rode away in the sunset covered sky, the lynchin' mob had strung his friends up right before his eyes. He didn't know what they'd both done, he sure as hell would end up hung, or help to notch the Sheriff's gun if he didn't move on. Get out'a here.

The Sheriff followed Josie's trail from Kansas City west, he said he'd put a bullet right through poor old Josie's chest. But Josie wasn't like the rest, he don't like bullet holes in his vest, in fact he'd do his very best, don't want any arrest. Don't wanna be the guest of the Sheriff.

The nights got so darned cold, he couldn't stand the pace, he looked again for Sheriff's men, but couldn't see a trace, so Josie found a nice warm place, but then the Sheriff solved the case, poked a gun in Josies face, and said, "lookie here."

The Sheriff rode him into town with Josie lookin' sad, he didn't know about the six-gun Big Kid Josie had, When Josie drew his gun real fast, and gave the Sheriff one big blast. Now Josie runs the town at last, a legend from the past.

Nobody ever messed with the sheriff