A young cowboy named Billy Joe
Grew restless on the farm
A boy filled with wonderlust
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
You're 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
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