Sam Cherry's Last Shot

Sam Cherry's Last Shot is the sixth song on the album 12 Bar Bruise. It was written by Stu Mackenzie, produced by Stu Mackenzie, recorded by Paul Maybury and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, mixed by Paul Maybury and Stu Mackenzie, and mastered by Joseph Carra.

Lyrics
(Spoken word/Broderick Smith)

Early that morning, the wagon-master of a train came into the post greatly excited, and reported that the dead body of a man and horse had been found in the road about six miles from the post.

A company of infantry was immediately ordered out, and proceeding to the spot found the body of Sam Cherry, pinned fast to the ground by the dead body of his horse. The search was continued, and in a lateral canon were found the bodies of Sergeant Love and the three privates riddled with bullets, mutilated and disfigured, but giving every evidence of having sold their lives as brave men should.

The trails were examined and the whole story worked out. The party had traveled along the road nearly to the entrance of the canon of the Limpia, known as the "Wild Rose Pass," when suddenly about thirty mounted Indians dashed from the bushes along the stream, cutting it off from retreat towards the Fort, and driving it up the lateral canon.

Suspecting a trap, Sam Cherry suddenly turned, dashed through the line of Indians, regained the road, and ran for life, away from the Fort, followed by a number of yelling savages. He was evidently doing well, when his horse stumbled and fell breaking his neck, and pinning Sam's leg to the ground. In an instant, he was surrounded by the exultant Indians

Raising himself slightly, Sam fired five shots at his enemies, then turning the muzzle against his own temple, he escaped the tortures of their vindictive rage by his "last shot." The baffled and terrified Indians went away as fast as their ponies could carry them, not touching the body, not even taking the arms.

Such is the way out in the west. People die by extreme barbaric ways. We’ve taken their lands, and in return they take our viscera and spread it across the desert plains.

Trivia

 * This was the first time King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard worked together with Broderick Smith, father of Ambrose Kenny-Smith. Eventually this collaboration would lead to the creation of Eyes Like the Sky.