Whenever Kindness Fails - Joe Ely

Crossed the desert in a dinin' car

In the spring of '91

Met some people drinkin' at the bar

They were laughin', havin' fun

I told 'em that I hadn’t heard the joke

That was so hilarious

They said that I was just a dumb cowpoke

I didn’t want to make a fuss

So I shot them down one by one

I left them 'long the rails

I only use my gun

Whenever kindness fails

The moon was in the sign of Scorpio

The sun was at my back

I didn’t know how far the train would go

Until the law would find my track

I saw the brakeman and the engineer

Drinkin' wine and eatin' brie

I asked them who would brake and who would steer

They started pointin' back at me

So I shot them down one by one

I left them 'long the rails

I only use my gun

Whenever kindness fails

I only have a moment to explain

Just a chance to let you know

When it’s time for you to board the train

There are two ways you can go

You can ride the winds into the sun

Feel a cool wind on your face

Or you can laugh into a loaded gun

And you’ll likely lose your place

Yeah, I shot them down one by one

I left them 'long the rails

I only use my gun

Whenever kindness fails

Yeah, I shot them down one by one

I left them 'long the rails

When I use my gun

That lonesome whistle wails