A young cowboy named billy joe grew restless on the farm
A boy filled with wanderlust, who really meant no harm.
He changed his clothes and shined his boots,
And combed his dark hair down.
And his mother cried as he walked out
Don't take your guns to town.
Son, leave your guns at home.
Bill, don't take your guns to town.

He laughed and kissed his mom and said your billy joe's a man.
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can.
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause, I'd gun nobody down.
But she cried again as he rode away,
Don't take your guns to town.
Son, leave your guns at home.
Bill, don't take your guns to town.

He sang a song as on he rode, his guns hung at his hips.
He rode into a cattle town, a smile upon his lips.
He stopped and walked into a bar, and laid his money down.
But his mother's words echoed again,
Don't take your guns to town.
Son, leave your guns at home.
Bill, don't take your guns to town.

He drank his first strong liquor then, to calm his shaking hand.
And tried to tell himself at last he had become a man.
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down.
And he heard again his mother's words:
Don't take your guns to town.
Son, leave your guns at home.
Bill, 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.
Bill, don't take your guns to town.

• A Bible & a Gun
• A Country Song
• A Far Cry from You
• A Little Bit in Love
• Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?
• Arianne
• Baby Let Me Follow You Down
• Baby's in Black
• Before They Make Me Run
• Blue Yodel #9
• Cocaine
• Creepy Jackalope Eye
• Cry Myself to Sleep
• Crying, Waiting, Hoping
• Dead Flowers
• Dirty Old Town
• Don't Take Your Guns to Town
• Elijah's Church
• Ellis Unit One
• Francine
• Goodnight Irene
• Hangmen
• High Fashion Queen
• I Thought I Was Dreaming
• If I Should Fall from Grace With God
• In The Jailhouse Now
• It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
• Johnny Too Bad
• Little Sister
• Love's to Blame
• Lucy Dee
• Lungs
• Me & The Eagle
• Mustang Wine
• My Uncle
• Nashville Cats
• Nebraska
• No Deal
• Open Your Window
• Racing in The Street
• Rex's Blues
• Saturday Night & Sunday Morning
• Shake, Rattle & Roll
• She's About a Mover
• Sin City
• Sincerely
• Six Days on The Road
• Slippin' Away
• Sorry Dwayne
• Sorry Sue
• State Trooper
• Summer Wages
• Sweet Virginia
• Take It or Leave It
• The Crush
• The Truth
• The Window Song
• What'll You Do About Me
• What's Your Name
• Wheels
• When Will Will Be Married?
• When You Fall in Love
• While You Sleep
• White Freight Liner Blues
• Windfall
• You Tear Me Up