Bad Mans Blunder

A
He strolled along home (I took my time)
       E
and he went to bed (Thought I'd sleep some)
H7
Laid his pistol (Big twenty-two)
   E
up under his head (I keep it handy)

[Verse]
E                                                                                  H7   E
Well, early in the morning 'bout the break of day, I figured it was time to make a getaway.
E                                                                                  H7     E
Steppin' right along but I was steppin' too slow. Got surrounded by a sheriff down in Mexico.

A
He was steppin' right along (Were a-high footin' it)
           E
but he was steppin' too slow (It was a sultry day)
    H7
Got surrounded by a sheriff (Boxed in)
   E
in Mexico. (I didn't even have a chance to see the country.)

[Verse]
Continues after the ad
E                                                                                H7        E
When I was arrested, I didn't have a dime. The sheriff says, "Son, you're ridin' free this time.
E                                                                              H7       E
Where you're goin' you won't need a cent 'cause the great state of Texas gonna pay your rent.

A
'Cause where you're goin' (I think he means jail)
E
you won't need a cent (Well, he knows I'm broke)
H7
'Cause the great state of Texas (Yippee!)
E
gonna pay your rent. (I'm mighty grateful, fellas)

[Verse]
E                                                                                   H7  E
Well, I didn't have a key and I didn't have a file. Natur'lly I stayed around until my trial.
E                                                                         H7        E
The judge was an old man; ninety-three and I didn't like the way the jury looked at me.

A
The judge was an old man (Too old)
E
Ninety-three (Entirely too old)
  H7                           E
I didn't like the way the jury looked at me. (I think they were suspicious.)

[Verse]
E                                                                   H7      E
The judge and the jury, they did agree. They all said murder in the first degree.
          E
The judge said, "Son, I don't know whether to hang you or not, but this here killin' of
N.C.
deputy sheriffs has just naturally got to stop!" ("You've got a point there, judge!")

E F

[Verse]
F                                                                         C7        F
It was a most unsatisfactory trial. They gave me ninety-nine years on the hard rock pile.
F                                                                   C7     F
Ninety and nine on the hard rock ground. All I ever did was shoot a deputy down.

Bb
Ninety and nine (It could have been life.)
       F
on the hard rock pile (They might-a hung me)
    C7                          F          F  Bb  F  Bb  F
And all he ever did was shoot a deputy down
(This whole thing has sure been a lesson to me. Bang! You're dead!)