Once upon a time it was the Roman legion

Against the Gauls or the Angles, barbarians.

Later to the Saturday bug1es of boyhood,

The U. S. Cavalry and whooping Indians.

And the Indians.

The good guys and the bad guys.

Bang bang the cops bang bang chased robbers.

Everyone was always shooting and no one died.

The bad guys ran, but the good guys ran faster,

And hardly anyone wanted the bad guys' side.

The bad guys' side.

The good guys and the bad guys.

Except some days everyone wanted to be a gangster,

And the one G-man was rubbed out standing there.

It was a crazy feeling. It didn't happen often.

I remember most of the time we played it fair.

Played it fair.

The good guys and the bad guys.

Always more soldiers and cops than Indians or robbers.

No one wanted to be on the side to lose.

But looking around I still see that some faces

Are absolutely sure which side to choose.

Which side to choose.

The good guys and the bad guys.

And it isn't mine. I like the cavalry.

I like being on the side with more than a few,

The side with the most guns and loudest voices

That always wins, the way it used to do.

Used to do.

The good guys and the bad guys.