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 off 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 piece 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