Dead Man's Shoes
FM Lyrics

In the Badlands long ago
The story takes place in a remote, lawless area.

There's a story often told
The legend has been passed down through generations.

Of a wanted man they thought they'd left to hang
A criminal was captured and sentenced to death by hanging, but escaped.

Then the stranger passing through
An unidentified traveler arrived.

Made a deal and cut him loose
The stranger offered the criminal a way to escape, and helped him do so.

Could have left him for dead
The stranger could have chosen to abandon or kill the criminal.

But this is what he said
The stranger made an offer to the criminal.

Come on, ride with me
Join me in my journey.

Let's blaze a trail of glory
Let's do something remarkable and noteworthy.

Set our spirits free
Experience true liberation.

Live and die with me
Be a part of all the ups and downs of life together.

You got nothing left to lose
The criminal has nothing to lose by following the stranger, as his situation cannot get any worse.

When you stand in a dead man's shoes
The criminal's previous life and identity have ceased to exist, and he must adapt to a new way of living.

A desperado and a wanted man
Both the stranger and the criminal are outlaws who have been targeted by the law.

Their reputation spread across the land
The two men have earned a reputation for their lawlessness.

Many good men tried and failed
Some law enforcement officers have attempted to capture the two men, but have been unsuccessful.

But no one ever lived to tell the tale
Those who were killed or wounded in pursuit of the men were unable to recount their experiences.

Now they're dead and gone
Both the stranger and the criminal are now deceased.

But the legend still lives on
The story of the two men has become a myth or legend.

'Cos you got nothing left to lose
The criminal has no other options, and therefore choosing to follow the stranger is a risk worth taking.

Nothing left to lose
The criminal has already lost everything, so the possibility of death is not daunting.

Dead man's shoes
The metaphorical shoes of a dead man represent the new identity and lifestyle that the criminal must embrace.