Duncan and Brady

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Duncan and Brady (1929)
Traditional

"Duncan and Brady" is an early 20th century ballad originating from a shooting in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1880. It was first recorded by Wilmer Watts and his Lonely Eagles in 1929.

882414Duncan and Brady1929Traditional

Twinkle, twinkle like this star.
Yonder goes Brady on a 'lectric car.
Makin' his way to the freedom land.
He's gonna kill him a sucker like a bullnose man.
Been on the job too long

Brady was a worker on the telephone wire.
'Long come Duncan with a shinin' star.
Looked ol' Brady right through the specs
He says, "There's no use in talkin', Brady, get your check."
Been on the job too long

Brady replied and he answered, "No."
Duncan showed him a sight that was never before.
Says, "Now, Brady, you are running your risk."
Oh, Duncan shot a hole through Brady's chest
Been on the job too long

Brady had a little .25.
Kill a man about a half a mile.
Duncan had a big .44.
Well, he laid old Brady in the barroom floor.
'Cause he'd been on the job too long

Early in the morning, just about nine
Horses [and their hacks all pullin' the] line[1]
White and the black all gathered around.
They're gonna take Mr. Brady to the buryin' ground.
Been on the job too long

Brady went to hell with a crutch under his arm.
Says, "Mr Devil, well I ain't here long."
Devil says, "Brady, just this-a way.
Well, there's never been a sucker here that ever got away."
Been on the job too long

Brady had a little .25.
Kill a man about a half a mile.
Duncan had a big .44.
Well, he laid old Brady in the barroom floor.
'Cause he'd been on the job too long

Notes

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  1. The exact text of this line is undetermined.

Licensing

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This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was legally published within the United States (or the United Nations Headquarters in New York subject to Section 7 of the United States Headquarters Agreement) before 1964, and copyright was not renewed.

Works published in 1929 could have had their copyright renewed in 1956 or 1957, i.e. between January 1st of the 27th year after publication or registration and December 31st of the 28th year. As this work's copyright was not renewed, it entered the public domain on January 1st, 1958.


This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

It is imperative that contributors ascertain that there is no evidence of a copyright renewal before using this license. Failure to do so will result in the deletion of the work as a copyright violation.

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