STANDARD TUNING 

Intro / Verse 1 (Luther) 
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                       (Johnny) 
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Verse 2 
    Bb 
He laughed and kissed his mom  
              F             Bb 
And said your Billy Joe's a man 
                                     F       Bb 
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can 
      Eb 
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause 

I'd gun nobody down 
        Bb 
But she cried again as he rode away 

      Eb                 Bb 
Don't take your guns to town son  
 Eb                 Bb 
Leave your guns at home Bill 
       Eb                Bb 
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 


[Refrão]
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 he had become a man 
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down 
And he heard again his mothers words 


[Refrão]
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 


[Refrão]
Don't take your guns to town son  
Leave your guns at home Bill 
Don't take your guns to town