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 out

Don't take your guns to town son

Leave your guns at home, Bill

Don't take your guns to town

He 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 away

Don't take your guns to town, son

Leave your guns at home, Bill

Don't take your guns to town

He 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 again

"Don't take your guns to town son

Leave your guns at home, Bill

Don't take your guns to town,"

He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand

And tried to tell himself at last he had become a man

A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down

And he heard again his mother's words

"Don't take your guns to town, son

Leave your guns at home, Bill

Don't take your guns to town,"

Filled 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 around

And wondered at his final words

"Don't take your guns to town, son

Leave your guns at home, Bill

Don't take your guns to town,"