Don't Take Your Guns To Town
Johnny Cash

CAPO 1st Fret

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

A                                             E             A
He laughed and kissed his mom and said, "Your Billy Joe's a man.
A                                    E       A
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can.
      D
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause, I'd gun nobody down." 
        A 
But she cried again as he rode away
      D                       A
Don't take your guns to town, son
D                        A
Leave your guns at home, Bill
      D                 A
Don't take your guns to town

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

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

A                                    E              A     
Bill was raged and Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
A                                         E            A
But the stranger drew his gun and fired before he even saw
   D
As Billy Joe fell to the floor the crowd all gathered 'round
    A
And wondered at his final words
      D                       A
Don't take your guns to town, son
D                        A
Leave your guns at home, Bill
      D                 A
Don't take your guns to town