[Verse 1]
A young boy named Billy Joe
Restless on the farm
A boy filled with wanderlust
Who never really meant no harm
He'll change his clothes and shine his boots
And he combed his dark hair down
But his mama cried as he walked away

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town
Don't take your guns to town
Don't take your guns to town

[Verse 2]
He laughed and kissed his mom and said
"Your Billy Joe is the man
I can shoot as quick, I can shoot as 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

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town, son
Leave your guns at home
Don't take your guns to town

[Verse 3]
Well, he drank his first strong liquor then
To calm his shaking hands
And he tried, he tried to tell himself
At last, he had become a man
The dusty cowpoke stood at his side
Began to laugh him down
And he heard again his mother's words

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town, son
Leave your guns at home
Don't take your guns

[Post-Chorus]
Don't take your guns
Don't take your guns to town
Don't take your guns
Don't take your guns to town

[Verse 4]
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 around
And wondered at his final words

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town, son
Leave your guns at home
Don't take your guns to town