The Preacher
Reckoning Redemption: The Ballad of a Fallen Preacher
Lyrics
The cold wind blew, the preacher grieved
The preacher expresses sorrow as a cold wind blows.
He said "they're comin' after me
The preacher feels pursued, claiming not to be what he appears.
I ain't exactly what I seem to be"
The preacher acknowledges a deceptive identity.
He pulled his pistol from his side
The preacher draws his pistol from his side.
Pointed it at me and cried
He points the pistol at the narrator, shouting.
And then he laid a bullet deep in my chest
The preacher shoots the narrator in the chest.
He stood still revealin' the story
After the act, the preacher stands still, revealing the truth.
That I knew was true before
The narrator already knew the story to be true.
And now because of it I lay dying
The narrator is dying because of the revealed truth.
He claimed to run with Jesse James
The preacher falsely claims association with infamous outlaws.
William Bonnie, and they all the same
Names mentioned are likely aliases for the preacher.
"I ain't no preacher man, I was born of fire"
The preacher denies being a man of faith, claiming a fiery origin.
Hey, can't you hear that train coming now?
A train is approaching, symbolizing impending doom.
Rollin' fast down the tracks, to hell they're bound
The train is headed to hell, indicating a negative destination.
Well I'm in over my head again
The narrator feels overwhelmed by the situation.
I hear those pistols layin' down
Guns are fired, creating a tense atmosphere.
And I have taken the lives of many men
The narrator admits to taking many lives.
Now the angel's comin' down
An angel is descending, possibly for judgment.
I said the angel of death is coming down
The angel of death is approaching.
Well, up in the horizon
A red sun is setting, signifying the end and death.
Laid the red sun, beatin' cold and dying
The preacher caused the deaths of others.
And taking with it all the lives the preacher stole
The preacher's deceptive nature is revealed.
Well, you see, the preacher is not real
The preacher is not genuine, embodying rage and evil.
He clench his fists of rage and steel
The preacher uses violence and demonic influence.
And spit the fires of Satan at your soul
The preacher sought entry to Heaven but was rejected.
He beat the path to Heaven's door
The preacher tried to reach Heaven but failed.
The angels said they'd take no more
Angels reject the preacher, condemning him to eternal wandering.
Now he walks the Earth forever lone
The preacher is condemned to walk the Earth alone forever.
And on the stone that marked his death
The preacher's death is marked on a stone.
When he did finally lay to rest
The preacher finally rests in death.
Were the lonely words "I'm going home"
The inscription on the stone implies the preacher's destination is "home."
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