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
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