Vigilante Man
Ry Cooder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(E) - (A) - (B7) Capo on 1
(E) Have you seen that (A) vigilante (E) man ?
(A) Have you (E) seen that (A) vigilante (E) man ?
(A) Have you (E) seen that (A) vigilante (E) man ?
I've been hearin' his (B7) name all over the (E) land.
Sleepin' just as still as a mouse,
A man came along and he chased us out in the rain.
Was that a vigilante man ?
Well, I rambled around from town to town,
Now, I rambled around from town to town,
And they herded us around like a wild herd of cattle.
Was that the vigilante man ?
Well, why does a vigilante man ?
Tell me why does a vigilante man ?
Carry that sawed-off shot-gun in his hand ?
Would he shoot his brother and sister down ?
Have you seen that vigilante man ?
Have you seen that vigilante man ?
Have you seen that vigilante man ?
I've been hearin' his name all over the land.
The lyrics to Ry Cooder's song Vigilante Man, written by Woody Guthrie, speak of the fear and paranoia that arise in a society where law and order seem to be breaking down. The central figure of the song is the vigilante man, a self-appointed guardian of the public good who takes the law into his own hands. The song's questions are simple but profound--who is this man, and what motivates him? Is he a hero or a criminal? And what happens to a society where the rule of law is supplanted by vigilantism?
The second verse of the song offers a glimpse into the vigilante man's tactics--he uses intimidation and violence to clear out the engine house where the singer and his colleagues are sleeping. The scene is a metaphor for the larger society, where the powerless are at the mercy of those with guns and authority. The third verse asks why the vigilante man carries a sawed-off shotgun--is he willing to turn it on his own kind? The song suggests that the vigilante man is more dangerous than the forces he claims to be fighting against, as he is willing to turn on his own community.
Overall, the song is a powerful critique of vigilantism and a call for a more just and inclusive society. It raises important questions about the role of law and order in a democracy and the danger of allowing private citizens to act as judge, jury, and executioner.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you seen that vigilante man ?
The singer is asking if the listener has seen the vigilante man.
Have you seen that vigilante man ?
The singer repeats his question to emphasize the importance of the topic.
Have you seen that vigilante man ?
The singer repeats his question again to keep the listener engaged.
I've been hearin' his name all over the land.
The singer is stating that the vigilante man's name is known by many people.
Rainy nights down in the engine house,
The singer is setting the scene for a specific event that took place.
Sleepin' just as still as a mouse,
The singer is describing the peaceful state they were in before the event occurred.
A man came along and he chased us out in the rain.
An unknown man entered the engine house and forced them to leave in the rain.
Was that a vigilante man ?
The singer is questioning if the man who chased them out was a vigilante man.
Well, I rambled around from town to town,
The singer is stating that they have traveled to many towns.
Now, I rambled around from town to town,
The singer repeats the previous line to emphasize their wandering lifestyle.
And they herded us around like a wild herd of cattle.
The singer was treated like an animal by the people in these towns and forced to move.
Was that the vigilante man ?
The singer is questioning if the people who mistreated them were vigilante men.
Well, why does a vigilante man ?
The singer is questioning the motives of a vigilante man's actions.
Tell me why does a vigilante man ?
The singer repeats the previous line to emphasize his confusion about vigilante men.
Carry that sawed-off shot-gun in his hand ?
The singer is questioning why a vigilante man would carry such a dangerous weapon.
Would he shoot his brother and sister down ?
The singer is questioning if a vigilante man would harm their own family members.
Have you seen that vigilante man ?
The singer is repeating his question for the fourth time to keep the listener engaged.
Have you seen that vigilante man ?
The singer wants to know if the listener has seen the vigilante man.
Have you seen that vigilante man ?
The singer repeats his question for the final time to emphasize the importance of the topic.
I've been hearin' his name all over the land.
The singer reiterates that the vigilante man's name is known by many people.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Geschirrspul
I am 3,200 years old and was just awakened from a slumber hexed upon me by a forest witch. This man is playing such an unusual looking lute, but I love the sounds it makes.
@thebob2751
His work on the Paris, Texas soundtrack was absolutely incredible.
@jethromc
And Southern Comfort.....Awesome Movie
@ikkenhisatsu7170
I'm 63 years old and disgusted with myself I didn't discover him 45 years ago. He's a monster. Unparalleled.
@trukeesey8715
"Is"?
@SoulDaddy33
I'm right there with you. Bummed but grateful as well. Always heard the name but hadn't listened. Darn.
@realmofthesenses
I am just 1 year older than you. Cooder's music was wellknown in my country, and esp in my group of friends around the mid 1970s. However, I simply didn't like his music. Relatively recently I re-discovered 1960s and 1970s country rock, americana and black americana Apparently my taste has evolved. NOw, I'm loving Ry Cooder's music, guitar virtuosity, voice etc.
@helowako
I am 16 years old, and for Christmas, I got a guitar slide, and so have become very interested in the blues and music of ry cooder :)
@Titan-gi4zr
You must be very good by now.
@helowako
@Titan I'm afraid to say I never got on very well with the slide but I'm still playing guitar lots including in a duo :) and loving blues, folk, fingerstyle, and more!