Don't Take Your Guns to Town (A Tribute to Johnny Cash, Dublin, 1999) Lyrics

A young boy, named Billy Joe
Grew restless on the farm
A boy filled with wonderlust
Who never really meant no harm
He changed his clothes and shined his boots
And he combed his dark hair down

And his mother cried as he walked away
"Don't take your guns to town
Don't take your guns to town
Don't take your guns
To town"

He laughed and kissed his mom and said
"Your Billy Joe is a man
I can shoot as quick
I can shoot as straight
As anybody can
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause
Of gun nobody down"

But she cried again as he rode away
"Don't take your guns to town, son
Leave your guns at home
Don't take your guns
To town"

Well he drank his first strong liquor then
To calm his shaking hands
And he tried, he tried to tell himself
At last he had become a man

The dusty cowpoke stood at his side
Began to laugh him down
And he heard again his mothers words
"Don't take your guns to town, son
Leave your guns at home
Don't take your guns
Don't take your guns
Don't take your guns to town
Don't take your guns
Don't take your guns to town"

Filled with rage then Billy Joe
Reached for his gun to draw
But the stranger drew his gun and fired
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
Don't take your guns
To town"