"(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" is a song written by

Burt Bacharach Burt Freeman Bacharach ( ; May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music. Start ...

and

Hal David Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist. He was best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach and his association with Dionne Warwick. Early life David was born and raised in New ...

, which was released by

Gene Pitney Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 – April 5, 2006) was an American pop and country singer, songwriter, and musician. Pitney charted 16 top-40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 h ...

in May 1962. It spent 13 weeks on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 4, while reaching No. 2 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade, and No. 4 on

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

's "Lever Hit Parade". The song was not used in the film, '' The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'', and there is disagreement about whether that had ever been intended.Dominic, Serene (2003).
Burt Bacharach, Song by Song: The Ultimate Burt Bacharach Reference for Fans, Serious Record Collectors, and Music Critics
',

Music Sales Group Wise Music Group is a global music publisher, with headquarters in Berners Street, London. In February 2020, Wise Music Group changed its name from The Music Sales Group. In 2014 Wise Music Group (as The Music Sales Group) acquired French cl ...

. p. 75. Retrieved October 13, 2016. Nevertheless, Pitney stated that the recording session was paid for by

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. **Paramount Picture ...

, and it was midway through the session that he found out the song would not be included in the film, when one of the orchestra members told him that the movie had been released already. Session drummer Gary Chester played on the recording. The Pitney and the

Jimmie Rodgers James Charles Rodgers ( – ) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician who rose to popularity in the late 1920s. Widely regarded as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Country Music", he is best known for his di ...

versions of the song are noted for a solo violin that plays in the upper register. Both versions are also noteworthy for the chorus, in which a quick half-second strike on the tympani is heard, depicting the gun shots: "The man who shot Liberty Valance, (bong)
He shot Liberty Valance, (bong),
He was the bravest of them all". The first verse describes the outlaw's intimidating presence and ability with a gun. The second focuses on the man who comes to town prepared to defeat Valance with the law alone. Later in the song, the law-book-toting hero falls in love with a girl who, when he is forced to confront Valance, waits alone and prays, knowing that: "When two men go and face (or "fight") each other, only one returns". With some exceptions, the lyrics generally parallel the film's plot. However, in the film, Ransom Stoddard, the lawyer thought to have shot Valance, did not remain in town because of "the love of a girl", but out of stubbornness. And although "the girl", Hallie, was attracted to Stoddard more than to her beau, Tom Doniphon, and worried about Stoddard facing Valance, she is never depicted praying for Stoddard or discouraging him from the fighting the duel. The song was ranked No. 36 in the Western Writers of America's list of the top 100 Western songs of all time, as compiled from a survey of its members. Jimmie Rodgers released a cover similar in form to the Gene Pitney version. The Greg Kihn Band included their take on their 1980 album '' Glass House Rock''.

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the single "Fi ...

recorded it for his 1985 album ''

That's Why I'm Here ''That's Why I'm Here'' is the eleventh studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor released in 1985, four years after his previous effort, ''Dad Loves His Work''. The album contains a version of Buddy Holly's " Everyday", as well as the part ...

''.

Chart performance

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The 1962 songs 1962 singles Musicor Records singles Gene Pitney songs Songs about fictional male characters Songs with music by Burt Bacharach Songs with lyrics by Hal David