Vigilante Man is originally a song by Woody Guthrie, recorded and released in 1940 as one of his Dust Bowl Ballads. The song is about the hired thugs (“vigilantes”) who would violently chase away migrants to California trying to escape the Dust Bowl, a man-made ecological catastrophe in the American Great Plains during the 1930’s. One verse refers to the murder of Preacher (Jim) Casy, a central figure in John Steinbecks’ 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath. The tune was taken from “Sad and Lonesome Day”, a song made popular by The Carter Family, which itself borrows from “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” by Blind Lemon Jefferson
In 1986 Dave Sharp and Nigel Twist along with members of The Long Ryders, Wire Train, and The Pretenders demoed a version of this song to put forward as an idea to be included on the next album The Alarm would record
It was not included on the album, but a version of Vigilante Man recorded by Dave and Mike appeared as the B-side of the A New South Wales 12″ single released on 23rd October 1989 the version recorded by The Alarm is a short version of the song with verses left out. The version Mike recorded with members of the Firebird Trio for Majority uses the full Woody Guthrie lyrics. The version Dave performs live and is recorded on the Live at Vic album in 2016 contains some of the missing verses form the 1989 recording
1989 Recording details
Running length 2:15
Written by Woody Guthrie
Musicians & Credits
Dave Sharp – Lead Vocals, Acoustic guitar
Mike Peters – Harmonica
Recorded live at Piccadilly Radio Key 103, Manchester, England on 20th September 1989
Engineered by Mike Thornton
Alternative studio recording releases ~ Re-recording
2015 Bethel Studio & Hailstone Studio Recording
Running length 3:11
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals,, Acoustic, Baritone & Electric Guitar
Steve “Smiley” Barnard – Drums
Chris Nomad – Double Bass
Pete Belair – Electric Guitar
Recorded at Bethel Studios, Dyserth, Wales, Sunshine Corner Studios, Fleet, England, Hailstone Studios, Melbourne, Australia
Produced by Mike Peters and Mark Warden
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Mark Warden at Bethel Studios, Dyserth, Wales
Album Appearances and discography of studio recordings
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
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1998 : Dave Sharp – Hiding In Plain Sight
Collection of Rare Sharp Recordings taken from radio sessions, demo tapes & rare releases
Recorded for Piccadilly Radio Key 103, Manchester, England on 20th September 1989
2000 : The Alarm – Rare Tracks [B-sides & Demos]
Released on CD by The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C017
Appearing as part of The Alarm 2000 collection box set
1989 original recording remastered
16th March 20105 – The Alarm – Majority
Released on CD by The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C071
2015 New recording
Single Appearances and discography
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UK Release :
23rd October 1989 : The Alarm – A New South Wales – 12″ Single
Track listing : A New South Wales / Breaking Point / (b-side) The Rock (long) / Vigilante Man
Released on 12″ Vinyl by IRS Records, catalogue number EIRST 129
1989 Recording
Europe Release :
October 1989 : The Alarm – A New South Wales – 12″ Single
Track listing : A New South Wales / Breaking Point / (b-side) The Rock (long) / Vigilante Man
Released on 12″ Vinyl by IRS Records, catalogue number 060-24 10406
1989 Recording
Germany Release : 
May 1990 : The Alarm – Love Don’t Come Easy – CD Single
Track listing : Love Don’t Come Easy / Black Sun / Vigilante Man
Released on CD Single by IRS Records, catalogue number 24 1047 2
1989 Recording
Italy Release :
May 1990 : The Alarm – A New South Wales – 12″ Single
Track listing : Love Don’t Come Easy / Black Sun / Vigilante Man
Released on 12″ Vinyl by IRS Records, catalogue number 14 2410476
1989 Recording
Officially Released Live Recordings ~ Audio
All are Worldwide Releases except where stated
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November 2016. Recorded at The Victoria Inn, Colchester, Essex
Running Length 5:01
Dave Sharp Solo acoustic.
Released on CD in 3rd February 2017 as Dave Sharp live at the vic on Little London Records
Officially Released Live Recordings – DVD
All are Worldwide Releases except where stated
2nd May 2015. Recorded at The Globe, Cardiff, Wales
Mike Peters solo acoustic set
Released on CD on 7th December 2015 – Mike Peters presents The Alarm – Live At The Globe 2015 – Majority Set
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD019
Lyrics
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I been hearin’ his name all over the land
Now who is a vigilante man?
Now who is a vigilante man?
Now who is a vigilante man?
I been hearin’ his name all over the land
Yeah
Now what is a vigilante man?
Now what is a vigilante man?
Has he got a gun and a club in his hand?
Is that is a vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Preacher Casey said comes from mile and miles around
Now who is a vigilante man?
Alternative Lyrics ~ Mike Peters Majority
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I been hearin’ his name all over the land.
Well, what is a vigilante man?
Tell me, what is a vigilante man?
Has he got a gun and a club in his hand?
Is that is a vigilante man?
Rainy night down in the engine house,
Sleepin’ just as still as a mouse,
Man come along an’ he chased us out in the rain.
Was that a vigilante man?
Stormy days we passed the time away,
Sleepin’ in some good warm place.
Man come along an’ we give him a little race.
Was that a vigilante man?
Preacher Casey was just a workin’ man,
And he said, “Unite all you working men.”
Killed him in the river some strange man
Was that a vigilante man?
Oh, why does a vigilante man
Why does a vigilante man
Carry that sawed-off shot-gun in his hand?
Would he shoot his brother and sister down?
Shoot his brother and sister down?
I rambled ’round from town to town
I rambled ’round from town to town
And they herded us around like a wild herd
Was that the vigilante men?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I’ve been hearing his name all over this land
I’ve been hearing his name all over this land
Alternative Lyrics – Dave Sharp Live at the Vic
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I been hearin’ his name all over this town
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Tell me, what is a vigilante man?
Tell me, what is a vigilante man?
Does he carry a gun or a knife in his hand?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Tell me, what is a vigilante man?
Rainy night down in the engine house,
Sleepin’ just as still as a mouse,
Man came along an’ he chased us out in the rain.
Was that a vigilante man?
Stormy days we passed the time away,
Sleepin’ in some good warm place.
Man come along an’ we give him a little race.
Was that a vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I been hearin’ his name all around
Preacher Casey was just a workin’ man,
He came to this town from miles and miles around
Killed him in the river now, some strange man.
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I been hearin’ his name all around
Tell me, what is a vigilante man?
Tell me, what is a vigilante man?
Would he shoot his brother and sister down?
Is that a vigilante man
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Audio & Visual Sources ~ ! live video
Click on image to watch a live recording of Vigilante Man performed by Mike Peters at Brudenell Social Club, Leeds. England 6th March 2015 – Audience recording
(Page updated 27/09/2022)