☝️ Key Points
- The Ballad of Boot Hill tells the events in the abandoned town of Tombstone, Arizona.
- The song describes the tragic deaths of brave men who lived in Tombstone.
- The town was once thriving, but is now deserted and in ruins.
- The lyrics emphasize the sad atmosphere at the Boot Hill cemetery, where those who died through their bravery are buried.
- Johnny Cash reminds us that life is not always fair and that innocent people sometimes have to lose their lives.
Interpretation
The Ballad of Boot Hill is a song by
Johnny Cash that tells the events in the town of Tombstone, Arizona. The town used to be lively and full of activity, but is now abandoned and in ruins. The lyrics of the song describe the history of the town and the tragic deaths of brave men who lived there.
The first verse of the song says, 'Here lie, no more and no less, four bullets from a .44.' This means that four men were killed by gunshots. Then it is mentioned that these events took place in Arizona, south of Tucson. The town of Tombstone is described as a place where brave men never cry. They lived there and died by the barrel of a gun.
The song also emphasizes how the town used to thrive, but is now deserted. The jail is empty and so is the famous bar, the Palace Saloon. Through the lyrics, it becomes evident that Tombstone used to be a real town. It is mentioned that there is a remote country road that leads to Boot Hill. Boot Hill is a cemetery where those who lost their lives through their bravery lie.
The lyrics also describe the sad atmosphere at the cemetery. At night, when the moon shines, it is lonely and sad to look down on the graves. It is specifically mentioned that Billie Clanton lies there. Although he never wanted to kill, he was still considered guilty and buried on Boot Hill.
This song tells the story of a bygone time when bravery and violence were closely intertwined. It is a ballad about the losses and tragedies that can happen in a town like Tombstone. Johnny Cash's words remind us that life is not always fair and sometimes innocent people lose their lives.