Leave your guns at home, Bill
And his mother cried as he walked out
And he heard again his mother's words
Leave your guns at home, Bill
He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
His guns hung at his hips
"Don't take your guns to town, son
As Billy Joe fell to the floor the crowd all gathered 'round
Don't take your guns to town."
But the stranger drew his gun and fired before he even saw
"Don't take your guns to town, son
A boy filled with wanderlust
He stopped and walked into a bar and laid his money down
He rode into a cattle town
"Don't take your guns to town, son
And tried to tell himself at last he had become a man
He changed his clothes and shined his boots
He sang a song as on he rode
Don't take your guns to town."
And wondered at his final words
Don't take your guns to town."
A smile upon his lips
"Don't take your guns to town, son
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
But his mother's words echoed again
And combed his dark hair down
Who really meant no harm
Leave your guns at home, Bill
Leave your guns at home, Bill
Bill was raged and Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
