Pretty Boy Floyd
Kinky Friedman gelesen von Wiglaf Droste Lyrics
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A story I will tell
About pretty boy Floyd, the outlaw
Oklahoma knew him well
? Twas in the town of Shawnee
On a Saturday afternoon
With his wife beside him in a wagon
Well, a deputy sheriff called him
In a manner rather rude
Using vulgar words of language
And his wife she overheard
Well, pretty boy grabbed a log chain
The deputy grabbed his gun
And in the fight that followed
He laid that deputy down
He took to the woods and timber
He lived a life of shame
Every crime in Oklahoma
They laid on to his name
He took to the river bottoms long
The north Canadian shore
And many a starving farmer
He opened up his door
They tell about a stranger
The same old story goes
How pretty boy paid their mortgage
And he saved their little home
Yeah, they tell about a stranger
Who came to beg a meal
And underneath his napkin
He left a thousand dollar bill
Into Oklahoma city
It was on a Christmas day
Come a whole wagon load full of groceries
And a note on which did say
? You say that I? m an outlaw
You say that I? m a thief
Well, here? s a Christmas dinner
For your families on relief?
Through this world I? ve rambled
I? ve seen many funny men
Some will rob you with a six-gun
And some with a fountain pen
But as through your lives you travel, boy
As through your lives you roam
You won? t never see no outlaw
Drive a family from their home
The song "Pretty Boy Floyd" by Kinky Friedman is a story-telling song narrating the life of an outlaw named Pretty Boy Floyd from Oklahoma. The song opens with a storyteller gathering the children to tell them about the notorious Pretty Boy Floyd, who was well known in Oklahoma. The song then goes on to describe an incident in the town of Shawnee where Pretty Boy Floyd and his wife were riding into town, and a deputy sheriff called him out in a rude manner, using vulgar language. In the fight that followed, Pretty Boy Floyd ended up killing the deputy with a log chain.
As a result, Pretty Boy Floyd took to the woods and timber and lived a life of crime and shame. He was blamed for every crime in Oklahoma. However, the song highlights the other side of Pretty Boy Floyd's life, where he would help out farmers and strangers by paying off their mortgages and leaving thousand dollar bills as tips. The song ends by advising the listeners to be careful in life and watch out for both types of people - those who rob with guns and those with fountain pens.
Overall, the song tells a story of the notorious outlaw Pretty Boy Floyd and his life of crime and also highlights some of his softer side where he helped people out in need.
Line by Line Meaning
Gather round me children
Attention, young ones
A story I will tell
I'm about to share a tale
About pretty boy Floyd, the outlaw
Let me tell you about a notorious criminal
Oklahoma knew him well
The state was all too familiar with him
'Twas in the town of Shawnee
The setting of our story was Shawnee
On a Saturday afternoon
The time of day was Saturday afternoon
With his wife beside him in a wagon
Pretty boy Floyd had his wife with him, riding in a wagon
It was into town they rode
They were headed for town
Well, a deputy sheriff called him
A deputy sheriff addressed him
In a manner rather rude
The deputy wasn't very polite
Using vulgar words of language
He used some foul language
And his wife she overheard
His spouse was within earshot
Well, pretty boy grabbed a log chain
Floyd took hold of a log chain
The deputy grabbed his gun
The deputy armed himself
And in the fight that followed
A scuffle ensued
He laid that deputy down
Floyd managed to overcome the deputy
He took to the woods and timber
He fled to the forest
He lived a life of shame
He carried out many dishonorable deeds
Every crime in Oklahoma
He was accused of every wrongdoing in Oklahoma
They laid on to his name
The authorities pinned all crimes on him
He took to the river bottoms long
He sought refuge in the river bottoms for an extended period
The north Canadian shore
The location was north of the Canadian shore
And many a starving farmer
He provided aid to numerous destitute farmers
He opened up his door
He generously welcomed them into his abode
They tell about a stranger
The locals shared a story about a mysterious visitor
The same old story goes
The narrative has been recounted often
How pretty boy paid their mortgage
Floyd paid off their debts
And he saved their little home
He ensured their humble abode was not taken from them
Yeah, they tell about a stranger
Yes, they recount this tale of an outsider
Who came to beg a meal
He purportedly arrived seeking some food
And underneath his napkin
Beneath his cloth serviette
He left a thousand dollar bill
He surprisingly left a significant sum of money
Into Oklahoma city
He made his way to the city of Oklahoma
It was on a Christmas day
The day in question happened to be Christmas
Come a whole wagon load full of groceries
He showed up with an abundance of food items in a wagon
And a note on which did say
There was a message accompanying the gift
You say that I'm an outlaw
To those who label me a criminal
You say that I'm a thief
Those who accuse me of larceny
Well, here's a Christmas dinner
Have a nice holiday meal
For your families on relief
For those experiencing financial hardships
Through this world I've rambled
Having journeyed around this planet
I've seen many funny men
I've encountered a myriad of interesting characters
Some will rob you with a six-gun
Some will take your belongings by force
And some with a fountain pen
While others will deceive you through financial trickery
But as through your lives you travel, boy
As you venture through existence
As through your lives you roam
As you move about
You won't never see no outlaw
It's unlikely you'll encounter an outlaw
Drive a family from their home
Kicking a household out of their dwelling is not a typical act of a criminal
Writer(s): Woody Guthrie
Contributed by Ella L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mark_yt91
It's time for peoples to give Floyd the credit he deserves, a true master he owns his own class in boxing and for me he is TBE
@punchy1325
Most of these where past their prime don't be fooled
@mark_yt91
@@punchy1325i can't be fooled buddy, I watch floyd since 2000, when he was pretty boy floyd he was probably the must ducked boxer in the history of the sport
@punchy1325
@mark_yt91 can't be fooled 🤣🤣🤣 you apparently have been. I've been watching boxing since before Floyd was born, not that it matters like you watching Floyd since 2000
@mark_yt91
@@punchy1325have a nice day
@CHRISTIANNWO
Look at the guys in this video. I think that says it all.
@boxingcoachdz6846
For a novice boxer (Pro debut) to fight the way he did when he stopped his opponent in the second round is absolutely amazing.
@juhs.william
Floyd’s style is the epitome of a slick american boxer.
@poneroneqb2066
Can't believe they try to compare Haney and some boxers to Floyd they good but they don't do this to they competitors
@CHRISTIANNWO
I think Hopkins, Roy, & Leonard better fit that title