Early one morning with time to kill
 I borrowed Jeb's rifle and sat on the hill
 I saw a lone rider crossing the plain
 I drew a bread on him to practice my aim
 My brother's rifle went off in my hand
 A shot rang out across the land
 The horse he kept running, the rider was dead
 I hung my head, I hung my head
 
I set off running to wake from the dream
 And my brother's rifle went into the stream
 I kept on running into the salt lands
 And that's where they found me, my head in my hands
 The sheriff he asked me "Why had I run"
 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 courthouse, the whole town is there
 I see the judge high up in his chair
 "Explain to the courtroom what went through your mind
 And we'll ask the jury what verdict they find"
 I said "I felt the power of death over life
 I orphaned his children, I widowed his wife
 I beg their forgiveness, I wish I was dead"
 I hung my head, I hung my head
 
Early one morning with time to kill
 I see the gallows up on the hill
 And out in the distance a trick of the brain
 I see a lone rider crossing the plain
 He's come to fetch me to see what they done
 We'll ride together til Kingdom come
 I pray for God's mercy for soon I'll be dead
 I hung my head, I hung my head