EVACUATION OF THE WEST^©

a.k.a. THERE ARE NO KINGS IN TEXAS
a.k.a. NO MORE KINGS IN TEXAS

It was on the day the cowboys were banned from the range
Metal touched the world as a master
They rode their ponies down in the cities of gold
To leave them for ever after
Now the sun was swollen red and old
The earth it was windy, dark, and cold
Where the highway ends the desert takes its toll
So dusty, red, and angry
It was a time when men died out on the prairie
From not having a decent friend
At night the ghosts to the more rough riders
Was a howl in the candid winds

You can hear them crying
Good God, I think they're dying

When them rangers down in Dallas
Had all, but given it up and left
And those that hung on hoping
Were trying their best to, to forget
The way those outlaws and desperadoes
Right from the cheapest to the best
Rode in on ponies made of skin and bones
Gave up their rusty guns and went back home
And the governor was sent down from Population Control
And marshall law was passed
Riverboat gamblers put their money on faith
For the time, for hope they passed

In the cold blue light of the desert night
There was a thousand starry ships
And men came down from still I don't know where
With death on their fingertips
Now there's no more kings in Texas
I swear they rounded up each and everyone
And oh that line of Conestoga
Reached from the Rocky Mountains into the old dead sun
Now Anna Maria walks the plains alone
Last of a struggling people
She thinks of all those outlaws who wanted to reach for the sky
And got stuck up on that steeple

Oh, you can hear them crying
Good God, I think they're dying
In the wind you can hear them sighing

A The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle outtake written in late 1972 or early 1973. Originally titled THERE ARE NO KINGS IN TEXAS, but was layter copyrighted under the title EVACUATION OF THE WEST. The song is also known under the title NO MORE KINGS IN TEXAS.

The song was recorded with the E Street Band, and, according to Brucebase, it does not feature David Sancious' (who joined the band on 22 Jun 1973) keyboards and does not include any instrumental or vocal overdubs. This tells that it was most probably recorded on 15-22 May 1973 or 17-20 Jun 1973 at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, NY.

This only known recording was released on the semi-legal CDs Before The Fame, The Early Years, Unearthed, and Prodigal Son. I was also released on several bootlegs, including The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol. 5 and Prodigal Son (Crystal Cat Records).

The song may have been played live in early 1973 but, as yet, there is no verified live performance.

Thanks Andy for the lyrics corrections.