Lyrics
[Verse 1]
He came in by the river road
With a black felt hat and a borrowed coat
Said, “Leave your names at the courthouse door”
Then the old bell cried and the dogs got low
He took the key from the barber’s hand
Bought the butcher’s block and the dry land
Signed one line with a burning grin
By sundown, hell had moved in
[Pre-Chorus]
Now the hens don’t peck at dawn
Now the bank lights burn too long
He taps that cane on the wooden floor
And every man steps back for more
[Chorus]
He runs this town, he runs this town
With a smile like a smoke cloud hanging down
He runs this town, he runs this town
Black boots on the county ground
(He runs this town)
[Verse 2]
He took Miss June from the Saturday dance
Made the preacher stutter mid-blessing chance
Put his name on the feed store sign
Now even the moon looks out of line
Sheriff Cole kept his hand on steel
But the devil man made a sweeter deal
Turned the jailhouse keys in his palm
Said, “Son, sit down and stay real calm”
[Pre-Chorus]
Now the dogs won’t bark at night
And the crossroads pulse with heat and white
He leans in close with a paper thin grin
And all our good sense caves in
[Chorus]
He runs this town, he runs this town
With a smile like a smoke cloud hanging down
He runs this town, he runs this town
Black boots on the county ground
(He runs this town)
[Bridge]
I saw him kneel by the water tank
Saw the whole sky go mean and blank
He tipped his hat to the saintless wind
And the townsfolk swore they heard him laugh within
If I call my name, he’ll call it back
From the feedlot dark to the freight track
And every porch light bends around
The king of ash in this one-horse town
[Final Chorus]
He runs this town, he runs this town
With a smile like a smoke cloud hanging down
He runs this town, he runs this town
Black boots on the county ground
He runs this town, he runs this town
Till the last church shutter shakes down
(He runs this town)
(He runs this town)
Details
GeneratedJun 30, 2026
Duration4:07
LanguageEnglish
Style
Indie folk rock with a dark modern western pulse, swung banjo figures over deep bass and dry drums; verse rides sparse guitar, banjo, and low toms, pre-chorus lifts with handclaps and tense harmony, chorus opens into gang vocals and pedal-steel-like lead lines. Gravelly male vocals with close-mic verses, doubled hooks, ad-lib shouts, and a whispered devil tag. Dust swells, reverse banjo scrapes, and a final chorus with bigger bass and stomping room energy. Wide, raw, and cinematic, indie folk, deep, rock
Credits
Prompt by
zed
zedModelAria v5.5
Prompt
Indie folk rock, dark, satanic, banjo, deep bass, modern western, a song about a man who’s become the devil and he runs the town
