A E7 A
A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm
E7 A
A boy filled with wanderlust who really meant no harm
D
He changed his clothes and shined his boots and combed his dark hair down
A
And his mother cried as he walked out
D A
Don't Take Your Guns To Town son
D A
Leave your guns at home Bill
D A
Don't Take Your Guns To Town
E7 A
He laughed and kissed his mom and said your Billy Joe's a man
E7 A
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
D
But I'd wouldn't shoot without a cause
E7 A
I'd gun nobody down but she cried again as he rode away
D A
Don't Take Your Guns To Town son
D A
Leave your guns at home Bill
D A
Don't Take Your Guns To Town
E7 A
He sang a song as on he rode his guns hung at his hips
E7 A
He rode into a cattle town a smile upon his lips
D
He stopped and walked into a bar and laid his money down
A
But his mother's words echoed again
D A
Don't Take Your Guns To Town son
D A
Leave your guns at home Bill
D A
Don't Take Your Guns To Town
E7 A
He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
E7 A
And tried to tell himself at last he had become a man
D
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
E7 A
And he heard again his mother's words
D A
Don't Take Your Guns To Town son
D A
Leave your guns at home Bill
D A
Don't Take Your Guns To Town
E7 A
Bill was raged and Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
E7 A
But the stranger drew his gun and fired before he even saw
D
As Billy Joe fell to the floor the crowd all gathered around
A
And wondered at his final words
D A
Don't Take Your Guns To Town son
D A
Leave your guns at home Bill
D A
Don't Take Your Guns To Town
