Don't Take Your Guns to Town

A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm
A boy filled with wonderlust who really meant no harm
He changed his clothes and shined his boots
And combed his dark hair down
And his mother cried as he walked outDon't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to townHe laughed and kissed his mom
And said your Billy Joe's a man
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause
I'd gun nobody down
But she cried again as he rode awayDon't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to townHe sang a song as on he rode
His guns hung at his hips
He rode into a cattle town
A smile upon his lips
He stopped and walked into a bar
And laid his money down
But his mother's words echoed againDon't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to townHe drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
And tried to tell himself he had at last he had become a man
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
And he heard again his mothers wordsDon't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to townFilled with rage then
Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
But the stranger drew his gun and fired
Before he even saw
As Billy Joe fell to the floor
The crowd all gathered 'round
And wondered at his final wordsDon't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town