Intro: A A
A E A
A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm,
E 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."
A E A
He laughed and kissed his mom and said, "your Billy Joe's a man.
E A
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
D
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause, I'd gun nobody down."
A
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."
A E A
He sang as on he rode, his guns hung at his hips.
E 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."
A E A
He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand,
E 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.
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."
A E A
Filled with rage the Billy Joe reached for his gun to Draw
E 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 'round
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."