Tom: Bb
A
A young cowboy named Billy Joe
E A
Grew restless on the farm
A
A boy filled with wonder lust
E A
Who really meant no harm
D
He changed his clothes and shined his boots
A
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
He left and kissed his mom and said
E A
"Your Billy Joe's a man
A
I can shoot as quick and straight
E A
as anybody can
D
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause
D
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
He sang his song as on he rode
E A
His guns hung at his hips
A
He rode into a cattle town
E A
A smile upon his lips
D
He stopped and walked into a bar
D
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
He drank his first strong liqueur then
E A
To calm his shaking hands
A
And tried to tell himself at last
E A
He had become a man
D
A dusty cowpoke at his side
D
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
Filled with rage then Billy Joe
E A
Reached for his gun to draw
A
But the stranger drew his gun and fired
E A
Before he even saw
D
As Billy Joe fell to the floor
D
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
