Billy was a young man gone astray bottle at his lips all night

And day mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday 



Whiskey ate big holes in billy's head summer's day he shot spud murphy dead

He said i'm headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red 



Mama asked lord jesus what to do at the door came knocking boys in blue

We're gonna send him up the river and make him pay his dues ma'am 



And so she watched him round that riverbend go billy felt a chill pass 'cross him

Cold they sent him up the river to turn a young man old