The Preacher
      written by Mike Bryant (BMI # 23848396)
(key of E)

He rode horseback through the
        mountains
On a stallion black as night
With a rifle in his left hand
And a Bible in his right
The year was eighteen sixty-five
And the times he lived was hard
But the preacher was determined
He would spread the word of God

Cabin after cabin
He would stop and set a spell
He'd break bread and tell the stories
From the book he knew so well
And the looks upon their faces
Was all he asked of a reward
Then the preacher he'd ride off
       to fight the war

(Chorus)
He was fighting against evil
In a world so full of sin
His ammunition was the good book
And the words he read within
In a time where each man lived
         behind a gun
The preacher spoke the words of
        God and wouldn't run

(Musical Break)

In Cumberland, Kentucky
The year was eighteen sixty-six
The preacher stopped like always
To read and get a bite to eat
And as he started reading
From the Bible, Book of John
He looked up and saw a man behind
         a gun

(Spoken)
The man he spoke in anger
He said get away from here
We don't believe in your religion
If you don't leave I'll shoot, I swear
And as the preacher looked him in
       the eyes
He could see the old man's pain
He said shoot me if you must
But God will win out in the end

(Chorus)
He was fighting against evil
In a world so full of sin
His ammunition was the good book
And the words he read within
In a time where each man lived
         behind a gun
The preacher spoke the words of
        God and wouldn't run

In a time where each man lived
         behind a gun
The preacher spoke the words of
        God and wouldn't run