Fans of the outlaw country singer waited patiently through two opening acts for the main event. Songs from his most recent album РІР‚СљShooterРІР‚Сњ rocked attendees in the small warehouse-turned-restaurant venue. Released in 1991 on Into The Great Wide Open, itРІР‚в„ўs a glorious moment of self-revelation that subverts both the genre and our expectations.Shooter РІР‚СљThe GunslingerРІР‚Сњ Jennings, son of the late Waylon Jennings, performed for a sold-out crowd at VenkmanРІР‚в„ўs in AtlantaРІР‚в„ўs Old Fourth Ward neighborhood on Jan. WhatРІР‚в„ўs the best kind of story about gun violence? One where everyone agrees to give it up.

РІР‚СљTwo GunslingersРІР‚Сњ РІР‚вЂњ Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers РІР‚СљIРІР‚в„ўm not killing these guys, please let me explain/But when IРІР‚в„ўm done, thereРІР‚в„ўll be very little left of their brains.РІР‚Сњ R-SON recorded this track for their 2012 album, Rappalachia, and it contains arguably the most devastating lines on the album. Despite the title, and the assertion of the protagonist that РІР‚Сљyou gonna wind up another notch on my gun beltРІР‚Сњ, you realise as the lyrics progress that this oneРІР‚в„ўs not actually about a gunfight, but its modern-day equivalent, the rap battle. ThereРІР‚в„ўs a fair amount of reference to guns and violence in the songs of the worldРІР‚в„ўs first (and only) hip-hop bluegrass fusion band. Also, Welch and Rawlings invented a new word РІР‚вЂњ РІР‚СљbindlingРІР‚Сњ РІР‚вЂњ for the song, which has got to be worth the Oscar nom. The duet that Welch and Rawlings penned for the pair may be a parody of a cowboy song, but the musicРІР‚в„ўs so en pointe and beautifully sung that the humour takes second place to the artistry. Probably the best thing about the Coen BrothersРІР‚в„ў portmanteau of short stories from the Wild West is its opening, with Tim Blake Nelson clip clopping into frame on his white horse, strumming a black guitar and singing Marty RobbinsРІР‚в„ўs РІР‚СљCool Water.РІР‚Сњ The second best comes seven minutes later, when Willie Watson shows up as his nemesis. РІР‚СљWhen A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For WingsРІР‚Сњ РІР‚вЂњ Gillian Welch and David Rawlings ThatРІР‚в„ўs Waylon Jennings on the harmonies in the chorus, by the way. A simple guitar line underlies the story of an old man drinking at a bar, recalling his former life of shoot-outs in dusty streets and РІР‚Сљthe smell of the black powder smokeРІР‚Сњ, and the twist in the final chorus is a reminder that modern living isnРІР‚в„ўt without its own dangers. But CashРІР‚в„ўs spoken-word rendition, given with his trademark rhythmic trot, isnРІР‚в„ўt perhaps as melodious, or as affecting, as ClarkРІР‚в„ўs. Johnny CashРІР‚в„ўs version РІР‚вЂњ the titular track from his 1977 album РІР‚вЂњ is better known than Guy ClarkРІР‚в„ўs original, recorded a year earlier. This is one of their best, tackling the age-old problem of being a famed gunfighter: that everyone else wants to bring you down. Either way, their albums are littered with shootouts and bodies, and their high-energy, high-drama approach to performance lends itself well to the subject. Maybe itРІР‚в„ўs because lead singer Nate HiltsРІР‚в„ўs uncle, back home in Saskatchewan, was (as he puts it) РІР‚Сљa big olРІР‚в„ў cowboyРІР‚Сњ. If thereРІР‚в„ўs one thing CanadaРІР‚в„ўs premier punkgrassers love to write, itРІР‚в„ўs songs about Westerns. If those backing harmonies РІР‚вЂњ especially the incredible bass drop РІР‚вЂњ donРІР‚в„ўt give you goosebumps, check your pulse. Sure, itРІР‚в„ўs most famous for RobbinsРІР‚в„ўs biggest hit (and Grammy winner) РІР‚СљEl Paso.РІР‚Сњ But if youРІР‚в„ўre looking for the classic quick-draw at high-noon (or in this case, twenty past eleven), you wonРІР‚в„ўt find better than the opening track, РІР‚СљBig Iron.РІР‚Сњ Written by Robbins himself, itРІР‚в„ўs a classic tale of good vs evil as a handsome stranger (and Arizona ranger) rides into town to bring down murderous outlaw Texas Red.

RobbinsРІР‚в„ўs iconic 1959 album, Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, is packed with sharpshooters and outlaws РІР‚вЂњ from Billy the Kid, to Utah Carol, to the nameless man about to be hanged for killing Flo and her beau. (Please note: we donРІР‚в„ўt think that shooting people is cool, or a viable alternative to an impartial judiciary.) Maybe itРІР‚в„ўs the fact that weРІР‚в„ўve been bingeing on the Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood Man with No Name trilogy this week (God bless you, Ennio Morricone), but itРІР‚в„ўs about time for a list of great songs about gunslingers. If you havenРІР‚в„ўt yet seen The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the Coen BrothersРІР‚в„ў latest movie, then believe us that itРІР‚в„ўs worth the Netflix subscription, if only for the sight of Tim Blake Nelson singing РІР‚Сљyippie-kay-yeyРІР‚Сњ while floating through the sky with a celestial harp. And, as it happens, for Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, who will be mixing it with Lady Gaga and Mary Poppins on the Oscars red carpet on Monday as Best Song nominees.

Like movies? Like yodeling? Wow, is this a big week for you.

Shooter jennings gunslinger lyrics