I'll tell you a story that's never been told
Of raping and killing and government gold,
The place -- Arizona -- the year '84
Just sit back and I'll tell you some more.

There was a 30-year captain, just earning his pay
Movin' a shipment of bullion that day
While men without honor were waiting to test
The Unwritten Code of the West

  It's the Code of the West, you must honor your neighbor
  The Code of the West, to your own self be true.
  The Code of the West, you must do unto others, 
  Do unto others before they do it unto you!

...so the town of Dolores, that morning in May...
was in for an infamous day!

This tale has a hero, his name, Lewton Cole,
They say he was born with an Ace in the Hole,
They nursed him on Bourbon, they teethed him on steel,
And his first words were "Shut up and deal!"

...you don't draw with a stranger... if he's faster than you.
You've sung your last ditty, kissed your last kitty,
And played your last hand, if you do!

When fate is the dealer, you raise or you call,
A chance-takin' man plays the cards as they fall,
A map worth a killin' is worth tracking down,
So... off to Integrity town.

A yellow haired women is early to bloom,
Her laughter is roses, her smile is perfume,
But the child of a lawman can die on the vine
With no man to taste of her wine...

Well... all I can tell you is, Billee didn't die on any vine...

  It's the Code of the West, you don't leave for tomorrow,
  What can be done today,
  The Code of the West, it's a true fact of livin',
  What's lovingly given, will lovingly come back some day.

The desert was losing it's fight with the sun,
When Cole stopped for water, at Hole Number One,
Just what was he chasin'? He'd sure like to know,
But he still had him two holes to go. 

  Oh the Code of the West, show your backside to evil,
  Give the Devil His due
  The Code of the West, you've gotta do unto others,
  Do unto others, before they do it unto you.

Now rapin', and killin' ain't really so bad...
But stealin' Old Blue, that made Sheriff John mad!
You don't help yourself to the eggs in the nest,
Of a man with a badge on his vest!

For tumbleweeds tumblin' from boulder to stone,
Your permanent addess is "places unknown"
You eat when you're hungry, you drink when you're dry,
If wishes were eagles, you'd fly...

,,,rest your head on your saddle, dream of fortune and fame,
When the wind's in the willow, a girl hugs her pillow,
And wishes that she knew his name.

Now treat a girl single, she'll preen like a bride,
But take her for granted, she'll come for your hide
She'll chew off your head if you leave her behind
And you'll lose... your natural mind.

Sweet yellow, sweet yellow, sweet tangarine gold,
You make a man fever, you make a man gold,
You're warm like a woman, a treasure to hold,
Sweet yellow, sweet tangarine gold. 

Well, he thought, and she thought, and like it or not,
The colder she acted, the warmer he got!

... when a showdown's a-comin', when a shoot-out is due...
Face up to the danger, throw a slug at a stranger,
Before he puts one in to you.

While Ben was playing steal the gold and make your getaway,
The other three played shoot-em-up and turn about's fair play
But Ben had tasted Painted Lips, and heard the Siren's Song,
So he could hardly keep from goin' wrong. 

  It's the Code of the West, heed the word of your sisters...
  It's the Code of the West, make a left turn from sin,
  The Code of the West, keep an eye on Tempation,
  Recite the quotation that says:
  "When Satan calls your name, it doesn't matter how you played the game,
  Cause all he cares about is.... DID YOU WIN?"

Now Cole and John and Henry J. were feeling might bad...
To think a little sack of gold could turn a good man bad,
But when you pit the Meek and Mild against the brave and bold,
The Meek inherit all the Army's gold!!!

Now, in the meantime, Billee Jo was scheming on her own,
She knew a healthy sweet young thing can't live by bread alone!
To play the tricky game of life, a woman needs a plan,
To play the game of Love .... she needs a man!

Now Lewton Cole knew Billee had some mighty fetching ways,
Old Ben would tell her everything, and still get 90 days,
Beneath a rock, beside the trail that leads to Mexico,
She'll find herself a 100 pounds or so...

  It's the Code of the West, every girl needs a dowry,
  It's the Code of the West, and it don't matter who's,
  The Code of the West, when a girl's pushin' twenty,
  She's gotta give plenty to wind up with rice in her shoes.

But Cole had a few other things left to do
He flowered his Stetson and boarded 'ol Blue,
The rougher you treat 'em, the harder they grieve,
And the longer they watch... when you leave. 

Old Mexico lies just ahead, so gambler, move along
There ain't nobody there to care if you done right or wrong,
You shot a thief, you found some gold,
You stole a kiss or two...
The world's a better place because of you.

  It's the Code of the West, when you're drinkin' Tequila,
  The Code of the West... toast the Red, White & Blue!
  The Code of the West... toast your neighbors,
  Your new northern neighbors, remember they were awful good to you!

That's the Code of the West.