(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance
Gene Pitney
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When Liberty Valance rode to town The womenfolk would hide, they'd hide When Liberty Valance walked around The men would step aside 'Cause the point of a gun was the only law That Liberty understood When it came to shooting straight and fast He was mighty good From out of the East a stranger came A law book in his hand, a man The kind of a man the West would need To tame a troubled land 'Cause the point of a gun was the only law That Liberty understood When it came to shooting straight and fast He was mighty good Many a man would face his gun And many a man would fall The man who shot Liberty Valance He shot Liberty Valance He was the bravest of them all The love of a girl can make a man stay on When he should go, stay on Just trying to build a peaceful life Where love is free to grow But the point of a gun was the only law That Liberty understood When the final showdown came at last A law book was no good Alone and afraid, she prayed that he'd Return that fateful night, oh that night When nothing she said could keep her man From going out to fight From the moment a girl gets to be full grown The very first thing she learns When two men go out to face each other Only one returns Everyone heard two shots ring out One shot made Liberty fall The man who shot Liberty Valence He shot Liberty Valance He was the bravest of them all The man who shot Liberty Valance He shot Liberty Valance He was the bravest of them all
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Written by: BURT F. BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Songwriting and Production"(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" is a song written by the famous songwriting duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
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Connection to Film and MisinterpretationDespite its direct reference and identical title to the John Ford 1962 movie "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", the song was not actually included in the film. This is reportedly due to a miscommunication in the production process.
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Chart SuccessThe song, performed by Gene Pitney, reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1962.
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Genre"(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" is traditionally categorized under the pop music genre, characterized by its catchy hooks and verse-chorus structure.
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Cover VersionsNumerous artists have covered the song over the years, including James Taylor for his 1985 album "That's Why I'm Here", showcasing the song's lasting impact.
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Lyric InterpretationThe lyrics of the song narrate a story of a man named Liberty Valance who terrorized a town until he was shot dead. However, the identity of the shooter is kept mysterious throughout the song, adding to its intrigue and appeal.
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Hall of FameBurt Bacharach and Hal David, the songwriters behind "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance", were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, underscoring their influential contribution to the music industry.
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Playback SingingGene Pitney, though a successful singer-songwriter in his own right, is best known for his interpretations of songs by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, including this one.
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Changes in Popularity and RecognitionDespite its initial success, "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" is lesser-known compared to other Bacharach-David hits such as "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" or "I Say A Little Prayer".
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LegacyOver the years, "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" has found a place in modern culture — the song was featured in the episode “Liberty” from the television series "Xena: Warrior Princess".
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Citation
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"(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32899506/Gene+Pitney/%28The+Man+Who+Shot%29+Liberty+Valance>.
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