A great song by a great artist, Michael Martin Murphy's ballad tells the true story of the "pettycoat outlaw" Belle Starr. As you can tell, the whole song is paired in verses of 2, and the pattern of the first two verses repeats throughout the rest of the song. To hear how the lyrics are sung you can purchase MMM's album, Cowboy Songs 3.

^CAs she rode into ^FDallas on a d^Cashing black s^Gtallion The ^Csilver trimmed b^Fridle caught the ^Crays of the ^Gsun

She had a ^Cplume in the ^Fband of her s^Cpotless white ^GStetson A ^Clong velvet ^Fgown and two ^Gmatching six ^Cguns.

^AmSometimes she wore f^Fringe on her b^Gright beaded b^Cuckskins Raised ^Fhell with her p^Cistols and s^Ammoked a ci^Ggar

She had a ^Crattlesnake ^Fnecklace and she ^Cloved des^Gperados This p^Cettycoat w^Fildcat, the ^Goutlaw Belle ^CStarr.

Born Myrabelle Sherley in Southwest Missouri She spoke Greek and Latin and Hebrew quite well She's fierce as a wildcat, deadly aim with a pistol She played the piano like a sweet Southern belle. Her brother rode under the black flag in Kansas He was killed with one thrill in the great Civil War She was only sixteen when she bought twin revolvers And began her career as the outlaw Belle Starr. And she loved many men who were wild, rough and fearless She danced with Cole Younger and she fancied Frank James She married Jim Reed, a dashing young outlaw Many a lawman soon cursed her name. She robbed, smuggled whiskey and she sold it to Indians Rode a big horse named Venus, as black as cold tar She rode out a-ridin' with Sam Starr the badman And soon became known as the outlaw Belle Starr There are several more verses to this song but I cannot find them online. I will edit this tab when I can find out what they are.

Michael Martin Murphey - The ballad of belle starr