Early one morning 
With time to kill 
I borrowed Jebb's rifle 
And sat on a hill 
I saw a lone rider 
Crossing the plain 
I drew a bead on him 
To practice my aim 

My brother's rifle 
Went of in my hand 
shot rang out 
Across the land 
The horse, he [bad word] 
The rider was dead 
I hung my head 
I hung my head 

I set [bad word] 
To wake from the dream 
My brother's rifle 
Went into the sheen 
I kept [bad word] 
Into the south lands 
That's where they found me 
My head and my hands 

The sheriff he asked me 
Why had [bad word] 
And then it came to me 
Just what I had done 
And all for no reason 
Just one peace of lead 
I hung my head 
I hung my head 

Here in the court house 
The whole town was there 
I see the judge 
High up in the chair 
Explain to the court room 
What went through you mind 
And we'll ask the jury 
What verdict they find 

I felt the power 
Of death over life 
I orphaned his children 
I widowed his wife 
I begged their forgiveness 
I wish I was dead 
I hung my head 
I hung my head 

I hung my head 
I hung my head 

Early one morning 
With time to kill 
I see the gallows 
Up on a hill 
And out in the distance 
trick of the brain 
I see a lone rider 
Crossing the plain 

And [bad word] to fetch me 
To see what they'd done 
And we'd ride together 
To [bad word] 
I prayed for god's mercy 
For soon I'd be dead 
I hung my head 
I hung my head 

I hung my head 
I hung my head