DON'T TAKE YOUR GUNS TO TOWN

Words and music by Johnny Cash

G 

A young cowboy named Billy Joe

     D7              G         

Grew restless on the farm

A boy filled with wanderlust

    D7              G    

Who really meant no harm

   C    

He changed his clothes and shined his boots

And combed his dark hair down

       G                        

And his mother cried as he walked out

      C                 G     

Don't Take Your Guns To Town son

C                  G 

Leave your guns at home Bill

      C                 G   

Don't Take Your Guns To Town

Repeat #2 

                                        D7                G

He laughed and kissed his mom and said  your Billy Joes a man

                                     D7      G  

I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can

        C

But I'd wouldn't shoot without a cause 

                     G

I'd gun nobody down  but she cried again as he rode away

Repeat #2 

                                 D7               G

He sang a song as on he rode his guns hung at his hips

                             D7             G

He rode into a cattle town a smile upon his lips

   C

He stopped and walked into a bar and laid his money down

        G

But his mother's words echoed again

Repeat #2 

                                         D7               G

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

                                     D7           G

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

  C

A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down

       G 

And he heard again his mother's words

Repeat #2 

                                     D7             G

Bill was raged and Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw

                                        D7             G

But the stranger drew his gun and fired before he even saw

   C 

As Billy Joe fell to the floor the crowd all gathered around

    G

And wondered at his final words

Repeat #2