Mama said
'There's something weird 'bout Billy
I looked in his room, his bed
Wasn't slept in at all last night'

But Papa said, 'Ah, now Mama
Don't you go talking silly
He's just a young boy
He's just sowing his wild oats
And that's all right'

But Mama said, 'no
There's something real strange 'bout my Billy
The farmer down the road said
He lost a few of his sheep last night'

'I know he's my own flesh and blood
But he makes my blood run chilly
'Cause I saw him from my window
And he was on the heel
Just screaming at the moonlight'

Is it any wonder we hate to see
The sun go down
And is it any wonder we hate to see
The full moon coming around

So Papa said
'I guess there's only one thing to do 'bout Billy
Hand me down my gun, Son
Bring along that silver dinner bell'

But Mama said, 'Papa
I beg you, don't kill him
'Cause I just couldn't bear
To think about my baby in hell'

But he went down to the blacksmith
Got him out of bed and said, 'Get your fire hot
Oh, shut up your shutters and close down the doors
We're gonna need all the heat you got'

''Cause I want you to melt my
Silver bell down to a single shot
I got a job to do and I got to get it done
Before the sun comes up'

Oh, so is it any wonder that we hate to see
The sun go down

Then we heard a shot
And I said, 'Papa got 'em
Then we heard a scream
And Mama smiled and said
'Betcha Billy got 'em'

But when I lifted up my eyes
There was Papa in the doorway staring at the floor
And my big brother Billy never did
Come home no more

So is it any wonder we hate to see
The sun go down
And is it any wonder we hate to see
The full moon coming around