As a young man I was raised by men of the cloth And I was tought to judge men equal and not to find their faults Until one day I witnessed a tragic thing The men lay on the church steps, slain And when the smoke cleared a tall man holstered his gun The bright day ended and a cloud did cover the sun I found hate in my heart that I'd never known before I'll see this man hang and if that's the one thing that I know for sure Silverado you'll hang by the hangman's tree And you'll die in misery His face remained in my eyes as I grew through the years I practiced shooting every day while trying to hold back the tears I traveled through Oklahoma and Texas to the Rio Grande Knowing when I met Silverado the Lord would steady my hand Silverado you'll hang by the hangman's tree And you'll die in misery Then the day came I dreamed of for years Silverado stood before me and my heart it pounded in fear As he turned and saw my eyes he knew why I'd come And without a flick of the eyes he went for his gun And as I caused a fight tears come to my eyes When he collapsed before me I dropped my gun an sighed Silverado you'll hang by the hangman's tree And you'll die in misery