Don't Take Your Guns To Town

A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm
 A boy filled with wanderlust 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
 Well, he laughed and kissed his mom and said, "Your Billy Joe's a man"
 And 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
 Well, 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
 Well, he drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
 And he tried to tell himself at last he had to become a man
 A dusty cow poke 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
 But filled with rage then, Billy Joe reached for his gun to drawl
 But the stranger drew and fired his gun 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