Cowboys, come and hear my story of Roy Bean in all his glory
"The law west of Pecos," read his sign
We must let our ponies take us to a town on lower Pecos
Where the high bridge spans the canyon thin and fine

He was born one day in Toyah where he learned to be a lawyer
And a teacher and a barber and the mayor
He was cook and old-shoe mender, sometimes preacher and bartender
And it cost two bits to have him cut your hair

He was right smart of a hustler and considerable a rustler
And at mixing up an eggnog he was grand
He was clever, he was merry, he could drink a Tom and Jerry
On occasion at a round-up took a hand

Though the story isn't funny, there was once Roy had no money
Which for him was not so very strange or rare
So he went to help Pop Wyndid, but he got so absent-minded
That he put his RB brand on old Pap's steer

And Old Pap got right smart angry, Roy Bean went down to Langry
Where he opened up an office and a store.
Where he'd sell you drinks or buttons or another rancher's muttons
Though the latter made the other feller sore

One fine day they found a dead man who in life had been a red man
Though it's doubtless he was nothing else than bad
They called Bean to view the body. First he took a drink of toddy
Then he listed all the things the dead man had

For a red man he was tony, for he had a pretty pony
And a dandy bit and saddle and a rope
He'd a very fine Navajo rug and a quart within his jug
And a bronco that was dandy on the lope

So the find it was quite rare-o, for he'd been a cocinero
And his pay day hadn't been so far away
He'd a brand-new fine white Stetson and a silver Smith and Wesson
While a purse of forty dollars jingled gay

Said Roy Bean, "You'll learn a lesson, for you have a Smith and Wesson
And to carry implements of war is wrong
Forty dollars I will fine you, for we couldn't well confine you
As already you've been laying around too long."

So, you boys have heard the story of Roy Bean in all his glory
He's the man who was the justice and the law
He was handy with his hooks, he was ornery in his looks
And just now I ain't gonna tell you any more