Story Behind The Song
Though my father in law wasn't a 'rifleman' in fact, by name he was -- Winchester. True story about the life of Stan, an accomplished husband and father who died in 1997 of cancer.
Song Description
About a common man's life
| Song Length |
4:00 |
Genre |
Country - Bluegrass, Folk - Traditional |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Subject |
Father, History, Past |
| |
Lyrics
The Rifleman
The Rifleman came from out of the hills; Rosman was his home town
He went to the big city looking for work; it was a lonely road to go down
The Rifleman was a man among men of the Winchester fame
He fell in love with a brown-eyed girl, Coty was her name
Chorus:
Oh, he loved that girl. For fifty years he held her by his side
Oh, she was his world. And he loved her ?til the day that he died
Coty and the Rifleman had three girls; they were the joy of his life
They raised them by a river on a Carolina bank; the youngest one became my wife
The Rifleman toiled for 35 years and struggled just to save a dime
He hammered out his living and measured his life while working for the telephone line
Chorus
Instrumental
When the Rifleman grew old he never gave up even when times got bad
He lived and he danced for his children and his wife and gave it everything he had
Rifleman, Rifleman listen to me, can you hear your children?s cry?
We will carry on your legacy; your memory will never die
Chorus X 2
Words and Music by Wesley Bruce
Copyright 2002