Richard Thompson

Shane and Dixie

Richard Thompson


Oh Shane and Dixie, they were two-bit crooks 
They wanted to be famous like you read in books 
Shane had the brain and Dixie had the looks for glory 
As a bankrobber Shane really was no use 
He'd end up likely at the end of the noose 
Which was fine by Shane if the papers could use the story 

Fame and love, fame and love, fame and love will never die 
Fame and love, fame and love, fame and love will never die 
Never die, never die 

Well Shane says to Dixie "We're getting nowhere 
I've a fine idea if you love me, swear 
We'll be household names if we only dare, forever. 
Here's two bullets in my old carbine 
One is yours and the other is mine 
They'll find us there at the scene of the crime together" 

Fame and love, fame and love, fame and love will never die 
Fame and love, fame and love, la la la la la will never die 
Never die 

Well she screams, she swears, she tears her hair 
Saying "Shane, this time you've lost your mind" 

Shane took aim with the sixteen bore 
Dixie lay dying down there on the floor 
Shane was shaken but his purpose was more inspired 
Shane says "Lord, what have I done 
But this victory is only halfway won" 
He put the barrel underneath his tongue and fired 

Well fame and love, fame and love, fame and love will never die 
Fame and love, fame and love, fame and love will never die 
Never die 

They found the bodies when the neighbours complained 
Shane was all over the walls like paint 
Dixie looked bad but her heart beat faint but surely 
Well they saved her life, they were just in time 
She turned her back on a life of crime 
And she married the man who came to type out her story 

The News of the Screws most generously gave 
The money helped to pay for Shane's new grave 
It looked so fine till the vandals sprayed it over 
And time took its toll and the weeds grew high 
It hid Shane's grave from the curious eye 
Or maybe that's why we forget those lines he told us 

He just said 
Fame and love, fame and love, fame and love will never die 
Fame and love, fame and love, fame and love will never die 
Fame and love, fame and love, fame and love will never die 
Never die, never die 
Never die, never die