Black Hat, Blood Moon

[Verse 1]
Boot prints in the ash behind the ranch house gate
Wedding ring twisted in my calloused hand
Smoke still curling from the cottonwood fence
Three small crosses in the blackened sand
Sheriff said "son, best let this rest"
I watched his eyes lean back and lie
So I carved that killer's name in leather
Strapped it tight and rode into the night
[Chorus]
Black hat, blood moon, I’m coming
Spur steel, cold wind, I ride
You took my world, left it burning
Now you’re the one trying to hide
I don’t pray for your forgiveness
I just pray my bullets fly straight
Black hat, blood moon, I’m coming
And I’m bringing you your fate
[Verse 2]
Tracked you by a bottle and a busted tooth
Card games, barmaids, whispered trails
Every town said the same low story
About a laughing man in a long gray coat of hail
Found your horse tied at the Dead Dog Saloon
Rain washing footprints off the clay
Heartbeat sounded like a loading chamber
When I pushed those swinging doors away
[Chorus]
Black hat, blood moon, I’m coming
Spur steel, cold wind, I ride
You took my world, left it burning
Now you’re the one trying to hide
I don’t pray for your forgiveness
I just pray my bullets fly straight
Black hat, blood moon, I’m coming
And I’m bringing you your fate
[Bridge]
You smiled like you’d been waiting (hey…)
Said, “Boy, they screamed when the fire took hold”
I saw my daughter’s dress in the corner of your grin
And my blood ran darker than the coal
We drew at once, no warning shot
Thunder cracked across the dust
You fell hard, hand still reaching
For a god you never could trust
[Chorus]
Black hat, blood moon, I found you
Spur steel, red mud, I stand
Three small voices finally quiet
As I wipe your blood from my hands
I won’t pray for my salvation
Just lay my gun where the ashes lay
Black hat, blood moon, it’s over
And I rode your ghost away

country, Dark, cinematic outlaw country with male vocals; low-tuned acoustic and baritone electric guitars over a slow, swung groove. Sparse verses with close, gritty vocal; chorus adds tremolo guitar swells, floor toms, and thick reverb. Bridge grows into a tense, roaring climax, then drops to a hushed final line and lingering slide guitar.