Country music star Miranda Lambert has put her own unique touch on Elton John’s “My Father’s Gun.”
This song originally came from Elton’s third studio album entitled Tumbleweed Connection and was a favorite of Bob Dylan’s. Miranda’s version can be heard on the new Elton John tribute album, Restoration.
This song tells the story of a young man who loses his father during the Civil War. The youth buries his father and then joins the conflict as a Confederate solider with his father’s gun in his hands.
Miranda’s spin on the tale is even more stripped down that Elton’s original— adding to the somber tone the song hopes to convey to listeners.
The country artist also expressed her gratitude for being asked to cover the track via Instagram.
Miranda is joined by many other popular artists who covered other monumental Elton John songs. This includes notable names such as Dierks Bentley, Rosanne Cash, Miley Cyrus, Vince Gill, Little Big Town, Dolly Parton, and Chris Stapleton.
“My Father’s Gun” Lyrics
We dug his shallow grave beneath the sun
I laid his broken body down below the Southern land
It wouldn’t do to bury him where any Yankee stands
To wear the color of the greys and join the fight again
I’ll not rest until I know the cause is fought and won
From this day on until I die I’ll wear my father’s gun
To New Orleans well that’s just fine alright
‘Cause there’s fighting there and the company needs men
So slip us a rope and sail on round the bend
To plant the seeds of justice in our bones
To watch the children growing and see the women sewing
There’ll be laughter when the bells of freedom ring
To New Orleans well that’s just fine alright
‘Cause there’s fighting there and the company needs men
All I said, all I said, slip us a rope and sail on round the bend
To New Orleans well that’s just fine alright
‘Cause there’s fighting there and the company needs men
All I said, all I said, slip us a rope and sail on round the bend, oh
To New Orleans well that’s just fine alright
‘Cause there’s fighting there and the company needs men
All I said, all I said, slip us a rope and sail on round the bend
To New Orleans well that’s just fine, that’s just fine alright
‘Cause there’s fighting there and the company needs men
All I said is slip us a rope and sail on round the bend
To New Orleans well that’s just fine, that’s just fine alright
‘Cause there’s fighting there and the company needs men
All I said, all I said, slip us a rope and sail on round the bend
That’s just fine, alright
Ah ah ah ah
Slip us a rope, sail, sail around, sail around the bend
Riverboat sails tonight
