The Mission
City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra/Crouch End Festival Chorus/Paul Bateman Lyrics


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In the southern part of Texas, east and west of El Paso
Where the mighty Franklin Mountains guard the trail to Mexico
There's a new made widow crying and a hearse a-rolling slow
And I guess that Devil's passed this way again

There's a lathered Sorrel Stallion running through the Joshua Trees
A young man in the saddle with his coat tails in the breeze
Got a six gun on his right hip and a rifle at his knee
And he's dealing in a game that he can't win

Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six guns, got a bloody tale to tell
Well, you're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of Hell

Them fancy clothes you're wearing and the women in your bed
Can't take away the faces of the men that you left dead
As you ride across the badlands with a price upon your head
Now that wheel or fortune starts to turn

Your reputation's grown 'til it's the biggest in the land
And there ain't a lot of people left who wanna call your hand
And I guess you go down shooting, just like all branded men
And when you shake hands with the Devil, you get burned

Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six guns, got a bloody tale to tell
You're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of Hell

Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun




Each notch you carved on your six guns, got a bloody tale to tell
You're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of Hell

Overall Meaning

The song "The Mission" by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Crouch End Festival Chorus, and Paul Bateman tells the story of the infamous outlaw William "Billy the Kid" Bonney. The lyrics describe the landscape and circumstances of his last days before he was killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett. The song invokes the idea of the devil passing through and Billy being outside of the law, constantly on the run, and ultimately meeting his fate.


The imagery of the lyrics paints a vivid picture of the Wild West, with references to the Franklin Mountains, Joshua Trees, and the badlands. The song tells the tragic story of Billy the Kid, an outlaw with a reputation that goes before him, and his death at the hands of Pat Garrett. The lyrics suggest that Billy knew he would not escape his fate, but he would not let Garrett take him without a fight.


Overall, the song creates a powerful sense of tension and inevitability as it recounts the story of the outlaw's death. The music, which combines orchestral elements with choral vocals, heightens the emotional impact of the lyrics, lending the song an epic quality.


Line by Line Meaning

In the southern part of Texas, east and west of El Paso Where the mighty Franklin Mountains guard the trail to Mexico There's a new made widow crying and a hearse a-rolling slow And I guess that Devil's passed this way again
In Texas, close to El Paso, where the Franklin Mountains protect the entrance to Mexico, there is a freshly bereaved woman crying and a funeral procession moving slowly. This suggests that the Devil has returned to this area.


There's a lathered Sorrel Stallion running through the Joshua Trees A young man in the saddle with his coat tails in the breeze Got a six gun on his right hip and a rifle at his knee And he's dealing in a game that he can't win
A sweaty horse is galloping through the Joshua Trees. A young man is riding it, with his coat flapping in the wind. The man is armed with a handgun and a rifle, but he is in a situation where he is unlikely to emerge victorious.


Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty one Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun Each notch you carved on your six guns, got a bloody tale to tell Well, you're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of Hell
Billy Bonney is a young man, only twenty-one years old. His adversary Pat Garrett is so determined to kill him that his bullets bear Billy's name. The notches on Billy's guns represent lives he has taken, and each one tells a story of bloodshed. Despite Pat's pursuit of him, Billy is currently one step ahead of him.


Them fancy clothes you're wearing and the women in your bed Can't take away the faces of the men that you left dead As you ride across the badlands with a price upon your head Now that wheel or fortune starts to turn
Despite your stylish attire and the women in your bed, you cannot escape the memories of those you have killed. As you travel through treacherous terrain with a bounty on your head, the price of your actions is starting to catch up with you.


Your reputation's grown 'til it's the biggest in the land And there ain't a lot of people left who wanna call your hand And I guess you go down shooting, just like all branded men And when you shake hands with the Devil, you get burned
Your name is now the most well-known in the land, and few are willing to challenge you. It is likely that you will be killed in a shootout, like many other notorious criminals before you. When you make a deal with the Devil, there will be consequences.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BILLY H. DEAN, PAUL NELSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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