Em D Em


[Verse 1]

Em
a gunman wears it when he k!lls

to hide the mortal sin

of shooting down another man

who has no chance to win

many men have seen it

they’ll never see it again

that smiling mask that watched them die

it’s called, the devil’s grin


[Chorus]

                             Fm
the devil’s grin the devil’s grin


[Verse 2]

i’ve worn a star a long long time

though it’s not so long in years

when you use a gun you count the time and hours

in blood and fears

my reputation says i’m fast

the fastest gun around

and that’s why those who break the law

don’t hang around my town

but looking down and straight at me

like a statue carved of stone

was the smiling face of an evil man

like none i’d ever known

he touched his hat politely

bid the time of day to me

but all the time deep in his eyes

i saw taunting me


[Chorus 2]

            F#m
the devil’s grin


[Verse 3]

the hackles on my neck stood up

for in his eyes i saw

that he neither lacked the courage

nor the willingness to draw

it wasn’t like the times before

i’d played this deadly game

with some fast reputation

or an outlaw with a name

this man just hung around the town

i watched, he did no wrong

inside i knew he’d come for me

but when, where, how long?

he was clever, he asked questions

where there a ranch to buy?

he made the people like him

with a smile that meant i’d die


[Chorus 3]

            Gm
the devil’s grin


[Verse 4]

i knew i had to force his hand
          Bb
there was no need to pretend
Gm
i trapped him in a game of cards
            D
there could only be one end
  Gm
i called him cheat and shot him down
C
knowing that i would win
       Gm
and my face in the mirror
  D
behind the bar, was wearing
            Gm
the devil’s grin