I's havin' a drink one Saturday night

Big Joe Hooker tried to start a fight

Now, Joe was drunk, and he was tough to beat

Stood six-foot-five in his stockin' feet

Joe laughed out loud and pulled a knife

He told everyone he's gonna take my life

He's too big to fight so I turned and ran

And I bumped right into Sheriff Sam

Sheriff told Joe to go on home

Sober up and leave the bottle alone

But big Joe laughed; he was a mean, mean man

And I started to pray for Sheriff Sam

Now ol' Sam's hair was gettin' gray

And I begged thе sheriff to turn away

But he just looked at mе with an easy grin

Said, he was sheriff, and he'd run Joe in

Well, Hooker made a swing with that deadly knife

But Sam, he just stepped aside

And Hooker hit the floor and there he stayed

'Cause Sam hit him with a blow that shook the whole place

When it was all over I could hardly believe

That it was big Joe down there on his knees

'Cause I thought Joe was a mighty rough man

But he don't hold a candle to Sheriff Sam

Now ol' Sam's been our sheriff for thirty years

I'm his deputy now, and mighty glad he's here

When he needs some help, well, I give him a hand

But they don't make 'em anymore like Sheriff Sam