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
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 words
Don't take your
guns to town son
Leave your guns
at home Bill
Don't take your
guns to town