D
[Verse 1]
D A D
Young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm,
A D
A good boy filled with wanderlust, He really meant no harm.
G
He changed his clothes and shined his boots and combed his dark hair down.
D
And his mother cried as he walked away,
[Chorus]
G D
Don't take your guns to town, son.
G D
Leave your guns at home, Bill.
G D
Don't take your guns to town.
[Verse 2]
D A D
He laughed and kissed his mom and said, your Billy Joe's a man.
A D
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
G
I wouldn't shoot without a cause, I'd gun nobody down.
D
But she cried again as he rode away,
[Chorus]
G D
Don't take your guns to town, son.
G D
Leave your guns at home, Bill.
G D
Don't take your guns to town.
[Interlude]
D G D C D
[Verse 3]
D A D
He sang a song as on he rode, his guns hung at his hips.
A D
He rode into a cattle town, a smile upon his lips.
G
He stopped and walked into a bar and laid his money down.
D
But his mother's words echoed again:
[Chorus]
G D
Don't take your guns to town, son.
G D
Leave your guns at home, Bill.
G D
Don't take your guns to town.
[Interlude]
D A D
D A D
G
D
G D G D G D
[Verse 4]
D A D
He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand,
A D
and tried to tell himself at last he had become a man.
G
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down.
D
And he heard again his mother's words:
[Chorus]
G D
Don't take your guns to town, son.
G D
Leave your guns at home, Bill.
G D
Don't take your guns to town.
[Verse 5]
D A D
And in his rage the Billy Joe reached for his gun to Draw
A D
but the stranger drew his gun and fired before he even saw.
G
As Billy Joe fell to the floor the crowd all gathered 'round
D
and wondered at his final words:
[Chorus]
G D
Don't take your guns to town, son.
G D
Leave your guns at home, Bill.
G D
Don't take your guns to town.
[Interlude]
D G D C D
[Verse 5]
D A D
Hundred and twenty years have passed and nothin's really changed
A D
A young man on the city streets, he has to make his name
G
He's still too young to know a gun can't make a boy a man
D
And his mama cries as he walks out
[Chorus]
G D
Don't take your guns to town, son.
G D
Leave your guns at home, Bill.
G D
Don't take your guns to town.
