-6 6  -6  5 -4 4   -3”  6   -5 4 -3”
Early one morning with time to kill
-3” 5  -4    4    -4 5
 I borrowed Jeb's rifle
-3” -4  4  -3” 4 -3”
And sat on the hill
3  5 -4  4   -4 5   -4  4   -3”  4 -3”
I saw a lone rider crossing the plain
-3”  5  -4  4   -4  5
 I  drew a bead on him
-3” -4  4   -3” 4 -3”
To practice my  aim
5   -4   4   5 -4   3    5  -4 4   -4
My brother's rifle went off in my hand
3   5   -4  4 -4 3  5   -4   4
A shot rang out  across the land
 4   -6   6   -5   6  -6
The horse he kept running,
-3” -4 4  -3”  -3”
The rider was dead
-3” 4   4   4   -3”  4   4   4
 I hung my head, I  hung my head

I set off running to wake from the dream
And my brother's rifle
Went into the stream
I kept on running into the salt lands
And that's where they found me,
My head in my hands
The sheriff he asked me "Why had I run"
Then it came to me just what I had done
And all for no reason,
Just one piece of lead
I hung my head, I hung my head

Here in the courthouse,
The whole town is there
I see the judge high up in his chair
"Explain to the courtroom
What went through your mind
And we'll ask the jury
What verdict they find"
I said "I felt the power
Of death over life
I orphaned his children,
I widowed his wife
I beg their forgiveness,
I wish I was dead"
I hung my head, I hung my head

Early one morning with time to kill
I see the gallows up on the hill
And out in the distance
A trick of the brain
I see a lone rider crossing the plain
He's come to fetch me
To see what they done
We'll ride together til Kingdom come
I pray for God's mercy
For soon I'll be dead
I hung my head, I hung my head