Vigilante Man

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In the early 20th century United States, the term “vigilante” was used to describe railroad bosses that threw hobos off of trains, hired thugs used to crush labor movements… Read More

Jul. 19401 viewer

Vigilante Man Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I been hearin' his name all over the land

[Verse 2]
Well, what is a vigilante man?
Tell me, what is a vigilante man?
Has he got a gun and a club in his hand?
Is that is a vigilante man?

[Verse 3]
Rainy night down in the engine house
Sleepin' just as still as a mouse
Man come along an' he chased us out in the rain
Was that a vigilante man?

[Verse 4]
Stormy days we passed the time away
Sleepin' in some good warm place
Man come along an' we give him a little race
Was that a vigilante man?

[Verse 5]
Preacher Casy was just a workin' man
And he said, "Unite all you working men"
Killed him in the river some strange man
Was that a vigilante man?

[Verse 6]
Oh, why does a vigilante man
Why does a vigilante man
Carry that sawed-off shotgun in his hand?
Would he shoot his brother and sister down?

[Verse 7]
I rambled 'round from town to town
I rambled 'round from town to town
And they herded us around like a wild herd of cattle
Was that the vigilante men?

[Verse 1]
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I've heard his name all over the land

About

In the early 20th century United States, the term “vigilante” was used to describe railroad bosses that threw hobos off of trains, hired thugs used to crush labor movements, and/or folks who would forcibly chase off western migrants.

The melody of “Vigilante Man” was taken from the country ballad “Sad and Lonesome Day”, which was popularized by the Carter Family.

Referenced in verse 5, Preacher John Casy is a prominent character in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. That novel tells of the hardships of a Depression era family that migrates from their Dust Bowl ravaged farm in Oklahoma in search of better living conditions in California. “Vigilante Man” is one of two songs on Woody Guthrie’s Dust Bowl Ballads with connections to that particular work, the other being “Tom Joad”.