Gunsmoke

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Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West.

The radio version ran from 1952 to 1961, and John Dunning writes that among radio drama enthusiasts "Gunsmoke is routinely placed among the best shows of any kind and any time." The television version ran for 20 seasons from 1955 to 1975, and was the United States' longest-running prime time, live-action drama with 635 episodes. In 2010, Law & Order tied this record of 20 seasons (but only 456 episodes). At the end of its run in 1975, Los Angeles Times columnist Cecil Smith wrote "Gunsmoke was the dramatization of the American epic legend of the west.

Marshal Matt Dillon is in charge of Dodge City, a town in the wild west where people often have no respect for the law. He deals on a daily basis with the problems associated with frontier life: cattle rustling, gunfights, brawls, standover tactics, and land fraud. Such situations call for sound judgement and brave actions: of which Marshal Dillon has plenty.

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon
by Gregg Metcalf

Marshal Dillon, Marshall Dillon was the cry

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon grab your gun

You're just the man we know to catch the bad guy

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon you got him on the run 

Marshal Dillon, Marshall Dillon you sure stand tall

Marshal Dillon, Marshall Dillon you are the man 

With sound judgment you hunt down one and all

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon you always have a plan

Marshal Dillon, Marshall Dillon it ain't so pretty

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon watch out for drunks

they all seem to find their way to Dodge City

Marshal Dillon, Marshall Dillon catch those skunks

Marshal Dillon, Marshall Dillon you've got a friend

Marshal Dillon, Marshall Dillon Festus has your back

no need to worry he is your partner to the bitter end

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon he'll pick up the slack

Marshal Dillon, Marshall Dillon you know she loves you

Marshal Dillon, Marshall Dillon what have you to say

Miss Kitty's on your trail like some ole seasoned Sioux

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon when's the wedding day?

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon with your hair of red

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon such a handsome man

the first man they look for and the one they all dread

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon so rugged and tan

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon you say it's a chancy job

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon your watchful and a little lonely

you are a man who wears the star of a U S law dog

Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon you are a one and only