After the guys worked on their sound for a while, inspired by gritty rock n roll, they finally recorded and released their first album, 1978's 'Molly Hatchet'. Then, in 1979, 'Flirtin' with Disaster' came out. The group's work earned them both critical praise and commerical success, the album hitting the #19 slot on the Billboard top 200 chart. Allmusic's Rob Theakston has spoken for many in writing that the "tour de force" of a record shows that " the band means business".
Yet the group's history would prove to be a rocky one. In 1980, Brown left the group to form The Danny Joe Brown Band (with future Molly Hatchet guitarist Bobby Ingram). He was replaced by vocalist Jimmy Farrar. After the release of Beatin' the Odds in 1980 and Take No Prisoners in 1981, Farrar left as well.
Brown rejoined the band in 1982 and Banner Thomas left and was replaced by Riff West. In 1983, a new album was released titled No Guts... No Glory. Steve Holland left and was replaced by keyboardist John Galvin.
In 1984 came the release of a new album The Deed Is Done. In 1985 Dave Hlubek left and he was replaced by Bobby Ingram. Then in 1985, the double live album Double Trouble Live was released.
The band continued to tour regularly, and then in 1989 the album Lightning Strikes Twice was released.
1990s
In 1991, the greatest hits collection Greatest Hits was released. Molly Hatchet was in ways similar to fellow Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd in that it paired strong guitar work with a pounding boogie beat. When Brown left the band after Flirtin' with Disaster and was replaced by Farrar, the band's sound turned more to jamming and free form. When Brown returned in time for No Guts...No Glory, the original sound returned as well.
In 1996 due to a stroke and illness Brown had to leave the band, bringing in lead singer Phil McCormack to finish the album Devils Canyon in 1996.
At this point, the band consisted of members: vocalist Phil McCormack, guitarists Bobby Ingram and Bryan Bassett, keyboardist John Galvin, bassist Andy McKinney, and drummer Mac Crawford.
In 1998 Silent Reign Of Heroes was released. And in 1999 the band traveled coast to coast with Charlie Daniels and the Volunteer Jam.
2000s
In 2000, the album The Kingdom Of XII was released in Europe. The band went on tour to promote this album. It was released in the United States in 2001. Locked and Loaded (2003) and Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge (2005) followed. In January of 2005, Ingram invited Hlubek to rejoin Molly Hatchet and in doing so became the only current member who was a part of the original band.
On Thursday, March 10, 2005, after Brown was hospitalized for four weeks, he died less than an hour after returning to his home in Davie, Florida with his family and friends at his side, at the age of 53 from complications from pneumonia. He had previously left the group due to the suffering from a massive stroke in 1995 while driving to his brother's house. After a long battle with diabetes and the effects of the stroke, Brown was able to take the stage one last time at the Jammin' for DJB benefit concert in 1998 where with the help of his friends he ended the show with "Flirtin' with Disaster."
On Monday, June 19, 2006, founding guitarist Duane Roland died in St. Augustine, Florida at the age of 53. He had been playing with the band Gator Country, consisting of former members of Molly Hatchet, as late as May of 2006. His death was listed as being of "natural causes".
Bruce Crump (July 17, 1957 – March 16, 2015) was the original drummer from 1976 to 1983 (including their 1980 hit song "Flirtin' with Disaster" ) and 1984 to 1991. He also played as a member of Canadian band Streetheart in the early 1980s, and joined several of his former Molly Hatchet bandmates in the band Gator Country in the mid-2000s. At his death, Crump was in the Jacksonville, Florida-based band White Rhino and the newly reformed China Sky.
Bass guitarist Banner Thomas died of complications of pneumonia, at 63, on April 10, 2017.
Dave Hlubek died of a heart attack on September 3, 2017, at the age of 66.
Jimmy Farrar, who was frontman from 1980 to 1982, died of heart failure on October 29, 2018, at 67. Singer Phil McCormack died on April 26, 2019 at 58 (McCormack had been sidelined in early 2019, after suffering from health troubles that affected his voice andwas replaced by singer Jimmy Elkins, who continued on with Hatchet after McCormack's death).
Steve Holland, the last original member of Molly Hatchet, died on August 2, 2020.
Gunsmoke
Molly Hatchet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for the right hand to play
I felt just right in the heat of the night
I'd ridden many miles that day
I heard of a place where men got together
Playin' and layin' it down
I'm going in to win, but Lord, what a sin
[Chorus]
Gun smoke on the horizon, hiding the setting sun
Gun smoke on the horizon, I grabbed my horse and run
Well the dealer was blind and I was trying to find
A way to keep the winnings I'd found
The smoke was thick, the tension was thicker
I still thought they'd gun me down
Gun smoke on the horizon, hiding the setting sun
Gun smoke on the horizon, I grabbed my horse and run
I didn't come into this ol' two horse town to get all shot I've got a little livin' on my mind
Aces and eights, ha-ha-ha-ha
Now the dealer dealt me eight and I had my straight
I knew the other men would call
The booze was a flowin', my cards were showing
But my back was up against the wall
[Chorus]
Gun smoke on the horizon, hiding the setting sun
Gun smoke on the horizon, I grabbed my horse and run
C'mon Thunder
The lyrics to Molly Hatchet's song "Gunsmoke" tell the story of a traveler who enters a rough and tumble town in search of a gambling opportunity. The singer arrives in good spirits and feels confident in his chances of winning the game, but soon realizes that he's entered into a deadly game of chance. As the tension in the room rises and the stakes get higher, the singer realizes that he may not make it out alive.
The chorus has an ominous tone, with the image of gun smoke on the horizon and the singer having to grab his horse and run. The gambling scene turns deadly, and the singer must escape with his life. The lyrics also reference the infamous "aces and eights" hand, known as the "dead man's hand" in poker lore, as a nod to the dangerous game being played.
Overall, the lyrics of "Gunsmoke" paint a vivid picture of a high-stakes gambling scene in a rough and dangerous town, and the danger that can result when taking risks for a potential reward.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I rode into town with my ear to the ground
I arrived in the town with cautiousness, sensing the surroundings.
Looking for the right hand to play
I was searching for the right game to make decisions.
I felt just right in the heat of the night
I enjoyed the warm atmosphere of the night, realizing it was just perfect.
I'd ridden many miles that day
I had a long and tiring journey before reaching the town.
I heard of a place where men got together
I discovered a spot where men unite.
Playin' and layin' it down
They play games and make bets at the same time.
I'm going in to win, but Lord, what a sin
My objective was to win, but I didn't know what it might cost me.
I didn't know they'd gun me down
I didn't anticipate that I would be shot down by them.
Gun smoke on the horizon, hiding the setting sun
The smoke of guns covered the setting sun on the horizon.
I grabbed my horse and run
I rode off on my horse, running for safety.
Well the dealer was blind and I was trying to find
The dealer lacked a view, and I was struggling to figure out.
A way to keep the winnings I'd found
I contemplated ways of securing the rewards I had gained.
The smoke was thick, the tension was thicker
The smoke was dense and the tension hung heavily in the air.
I still thought they'd gun me down
Despite everything, I remained concerned that they would still try to shoot me.
I didn't come into this ol' two horse town to get all shot
I didn't arrive in this desolate town to get shot.
I've got a little livin' on my mind
I have some goals that I wish to fulfill.
Aces and eights, ha-ha-ha-ha
The combination of two pairs of aces and eights, known as a 'dead man's hand,' considered unlucky in gambling.
Now the dealer dealt me eight and I had my straight
The dealer gave me eight, and I had the cards for making a sequence.
I knew the other men would call
I was confident that the other men would follow suit.
The booze was a flowin', my cards were showing
The drinks were being served, and my cards were visible.
But my back was up against the wall
Despite everything, I was still in a tight spot.
C'mon Thunder
An expression used to motivate and encourage the horse.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: BRUCE HULL JR CRUMP, DUANE CURTIS ROLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
johnny zell
Well I rode into town with my ear to the ground
Looking for the right hand to play
I felt just right in the heat of the night
I'd ridden many miles that day
I heard of a place where men got together
Playin' and layin' it down
I'm going in to win, but Lord, what a sin
I didn't know they'd gun me down
[Chorus]
Gun smoke on the horizon, hiding the setting sun
Gun smoke on the horizon, I grabbed my horse and run
Well the dealer was blind and I was trying to find
A way to keep the winnings I'd found
The smoke was thick, the tension was thicker
I still thought they'd gun me down
Gun smoke on the horizon, hiding the setting sun
Gun smoke on the horizon, I grabbed my horse and run
I didn't come into this ol' two horse town to get all shot I've got a little livin' on my mind
Aces and eights, ha-ha-ha-ha
Now the dealer dealt me eight and I had my straight
I knew the other men would call
The booze was a flowin', my cards were showing
But my back was up against the wall
[Chorus]
Gun smoke on the horizon, hiding the setting sun
Gun smoke on the horizon, I grabbed my horse and run
C'mon Thunder
Songwriters: BRUCE HULL JR CRUMP,DUANE CURTIS ROLAND
WVFreebyrd
Probably one of the best "beginning to end" rock and roll albums EVER. Not a weak song on the whole thing.
jade
You are sooooo right!!!
Schäferhund Schmidt
I agree-learned to play every one of them.
Mirage Tours
probably hell
jchambers1970
totally agree, what a great Southern Rock sound
johnny zell
Well I rode into town with my ear to the ground
Looking for the right hand to play
I felt just right in the heat of the night
I'd ridden many miles that day
I heard of a place where men got together
Playin' and layin' it down
I'm going in to win, but Lord, what a sin
I didn't know they'd gun me down
[Chorus]
Gun smoke on the horizon, hiding the setting sun
Gun smoke on the horizon, I grabbed my horse and run
Well the dealer was blind and I was trying to find
A way to keep the winnings I'd found
The smoke was thick, the tension was thicker
I still thought they'd gun me down
Gun smoke on the horizon, hiding the setting sun
Gun smoke on the horizon, I grabbed my horse and run
I didn't come into this ol' two horse town to get all shot I've got a little livin' on my mind
Aces and eights, ha-ha-ha-ha
Now the dealer dealt me eight and I had my straight
I knew the other men would call
The booze was a flowin', my cards were showing
But my back was up against the wall
[Chorus]
Gun smoke on the horizon, hiding the setting sun
Gun smoke on the horizon, I grabbed my horse and run
C'mon Thunder
Songwriters: BRUCE HULL JR CRUMP,DUANE CURTIS ROLAND
Trish Peyton
I remember buying this album X-Mas time in '79. I played the shit out of this song over and over. They were the nest big thing next to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Thanx for the post..Peace!!!
jade
I did too! Played it over and over and over.
Terry Jackson
keep hammering out terry. jackson
Carmelo Spinella
simply orgasmic..... One of best bands ever!