Drink With The Living Dead

Artist: GhoulTown
From the CD: Life After Sundown
Art by: Juha Vuorma
Directed by: Laume Conroy

I was sittin in The Thirsty Devil
one sheet hung to the wind
when the bat wings doors creaked open 
and a stranger sauntered in
he moved his head from side to side 
and glared with a sunken eye
I heard the spin of a rusty spur 
as he shook off the dreary night

he lowered his hat, checked his gun 
and headed toward the bar
walked on up beside me
I knew he'd traveled far
in a voice as thick as mud 
he looked to the 'keep and said...
"one shot of whiskey for myself 
and one for my new friend"

the patrons whispered hushed and low
they seemed to be afraid
as if a ghost had stood right up 
and walked out of its grave
his face was shallow and dirty
his skin like leather hide
sure he spoke like any man
but something wasn't right

so I twisted on my stool
turned to him and said
"thank you sir, but just the same, 
I'm chasin worms instead"
he growled and shoved the drink my way 
his eyes cold as death
"I pick the drinks, you knock 'em back
else draw against my hand"

chorus:
when it's six to midnight
and the boney hand of death is nigh
you better drink your drink and shut your mouth
if you draw against his hand, you can never win
go ahead... drink with the living dead

"who the hell do you think you are?" 
my patience growin thin
but swallow hard, I had to do, 
when the story he began
his lips curled back and words came forth
starting up the tale
and every face inside that bar 
turned a shade of pale

"my name is Stanton Cree 
and I died three years before
I shot a man to steal his drink
at least that's what they hung me for
now I'm cursed to walk the earth 
and challenge every night
a man to match me drink for drink
or by the bullet die"

"now wait a minute, mister, 
no one makes me a fool"
I pushed the shot of whiskey 
back on over towards the ghoul
"I love a drink like any man 
but that's a losin game
to drink or draw against the dead 
would only be insane"

Stanton Cree tipped his hat 
and laughed a wicked laugh
"you see, the lord cursed my soul 
for killin that poor man
there ain't no choice so you must try 
to match me shot for shot
if you win, then you'll go free
and I can finally rot"

the barhop nodded slowly 
and I knew that I was screwed
if I chose to duel the dead
then I would surely lose
so I took the glass 
and threw the shot into my throat
I would match him drink for drink 
no matter if I choked

whiskey, tequila, vodka, rum or gin
ain't no man that I can't beat
be him live or dead
so into the morning 
I matched him ounce for ounce
til Stanton Cree fell over 
and a winner was announced

now he rests in his pine box 
and I still walk the streets
but I don't forget the night 
when death had chosen me
there ain't no fancy moral 
to go with this I fear
unless you aim to kill a man
and drink down his last beer!