Feb 2022 folk guitar mandola bass
Seems during Covid hell, i've ended up watching a lot of Gunsmoke. (Refer to 'Crastination) The stark contrast between good and evil! As a consequence, I started contemplating writing a song based on the saga. When the Week 1 challenge was posted, it kind of brought all these contemplations together. Here's the story of Chester Goode's Bad Leg.
Chester Goode’s Bad Leg
I have me this here tale ‘bout a man named Chester Goode,
And Dodge City, Kansas, where he spent his bachelorhood.
Following the Civil War, ‘round 1872…
Old Chester limped into town, and he failed to pass right through.
At the Longbranch Saloon, he met a motley crew,
Marshall Dillon and Doc Adams… when he stopped in for a brew.
With them and Kitty Russell his escapades commenced…
Had a cot down in the jailhouse if that makes any sense.
Turns out that this Chester was injured in the war,
Badly hurt his right leg, and was lucky it weren’t more…
So, he made the Marshall coffee and would pick up all his mail…
And living through his obstacles, ol’ Chester would prevail.
Chester, Chester Goode… he had him one bad leg…
His right leg was his wrong leg, damn that powder keg…
Many might have given up; but that just wasn’t him.
He made his way with character in times that were so grim.
I have me this here tale ‘bout a man named Chester Goode,
And Dodge City, Kansas, where he spent his bachelorhood…
@erbaer Feb 2022
Great song and a Goode story. I couldn't have told you Chester's last name until now. Nice writing on a great character piece.
@andygriff Feb 2022
What a brilliant idea for a song Bob! Great storytelling and I love lines like "Old Chester limped into town and he failed to pass right through" :)
@mikeskliar Feb 2022
nice song! Don't thing I've seen gunsmoke, or bonanza (were they on around the same time period? i remember bonanza a tiny bit more) in like 40 years. This is a fine song and recording and sounds really nice- the guitar, mandola and bass work well together! nice lyric too!