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Watchman Of Spokane

by Cottonwood Boys

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about

Silver miner James Fernando Shepard was shot by Frank Cox in the evening of June 21st, 1908 over a mining claim in Spokane, South Dakota.

The town lays ruined and dilapidated over 100 years later, with the remnants of barns, abandoned mid-century cars, and the lonely gravestone of Jim Shepard.

lyrics

I walked a path in the towering pines just south of Old Keystone
To a ghostly spot that time forgot for 90 years or so
There's plenty of holes for an ankle to roll where they dug up an underground fortune
A lonely barn, a few old cars, and the house of the silver mine foreman

Now back in 76, a thousand shovels and picks were tearing at the earth below
James Shepard came to make his name all the way from southern Wisco
He worked Spokane with an axe in hand til he jumped on an unkept claim
He drove his stake but a man called Frank had already given his name

In a lonely grave in a long gone town
There'es a lonesome man buried six feet underground
A silver miner's fate in someone else's hands
Now he lays in silence, the Watchman of Spokane

It was common enough when a claim went untouched that another man could make his stay
But when Frank and his son heard what James had done they knew there was Hell to pay
Those rats had stolen that land before and they let the papers wither
They had their sights on Shepard's head, and set out after dinner.

On a stormy eve in the grass and the weeds Jim was out searching for his cattle
He was roaming around and he let his guard down when he heard that Frank Cox rattle
"You son of a bitch, you've driven your last stake!" and he pulled the trigger of his gun
Jim was shot and onward he fought, towards home he made his run.

With no time to waste his wife made haste and a neighbor rode on towards town
It was 17 miles and the lightning was wild, the rain kept on coming down
And Jim held on til the break of dawn when he uttered his final breath
"It was Frank and his son with a loaded shotgun, that sent me to my death"

In a lonely grave in a long gone town
There'es a lonesome man buried six feet underground
A silver miner's fate in someone else's hands
Now he lays in silence, the Watchman of Spokane

Now the funeral was short and the anger in scores for the death of man they all treasured
And no man's neck ever hung from the deck for the murder of James F. Shepard
When the preacher asked "who?" the townsfolk knew and they pointed up past the rocks
The killing was done by the father and son of the house of old Frank Cox

In a lonely grave in a long gone town
There'es a lonesome man buried six feet underground
A silver miner's fate in someone else's hands
Now he lays in silence, the Watchman of Spokane

credits

released March 7, 2022
Clayton Ryan - lead vox, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums, upright bass, percussion
Tom Frear - vox, acoustic guitar, banjo
Engineered by Tom Frear
Mixed and Mastered by Tom Frear and Clayton Ryan at Cottonwood Studios in Rapid City, South Dakota

Album art by Clayton Ryan

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Cottonwood Boys Rapid City, South Dakota

Acoustic Strummin', Pickin,' and Hollerin.'

From the oily floors of the garage to the sticky counters of the bar, the Cottonwood Boys sound speaks to anyone who's wondering "Where is a song about me?"

Bluegrass? Alt Country? Mountain Music? They aren't sure.

In fact, they are too busy trying to sell a song or find a meal to really care but they'll hear you out. ... more

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