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."