I's havin' a drink on 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 turn 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 ole Sam's hair was gettin' gray
And I begged the sheriff to turn away
But he just looked at me 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 ole 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