Tom: A

Intro: A   A    A   A  (Pick The bass Note On beat 1 And 3/  No Strumming)

   A                               E              A      
A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm
   A                            E              A      
A boy filled with wanderlust who really meant no harm
    D  
He changed his clothes and shined his boots and combed his dark hair down
         A                      
And his mother cried as he walked out...

Chorus:
                 D                A     
         "Don't take your guns to town, son
          D                 A     
         Leave your guns at home, Bill...
                        D         D(strum )   A*        A
         (Pause)  Don't take your guns to   town."

(Start Playing Alternating Bass Rhythm At The Asterisk, And Continue To The End Of The Song)


    A                                          E            A
He laughed and kissed his mom and said, "Your Billy Joe's a man.
 A                                    E      A
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can,
       D                                  
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause, I'd gun nobody down."
         A
But she cried again as he rode away...

         Chorus (Slowly):
                 D                A
         "Don't take your guns to town, son
          D                       A
         Leave your guns at home, Bill...
          N/C/            D                  A        
         (Pause)  Don't take your guns to town." (Resume Full Tempo)


   A                               E              A       
He sang a song as on he rode, his guns hung at his hips.
   A                            E              A      
He rode into a cattle town, a smile upon his lips.
    D  
He stopped and walked into a bar and laid his money down,
         A                      
But his mother's words echoed again...

**Chorus


   A                               E              A      
He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
   A                            E              A      
And tried to tell himself at last he had become a man.
    D  
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
         A                      
And he heard again his mother's words...

**Chorus


   A                               E              A      
Bill was raged and Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw,
   A                            E              A      
But the stranger drew his gun and fired before he even saw.
    D  
As Billy Joe fell to the floor the crowd all gathered 'round,
         A                      
And wondered at his final words...

Final Chorus:
                 D                A     
         "Don't take your guns to town, son
          D                 A     
          Leave your guns at home, Bill...(pause)
          (Pause)  D         D(Strum )        A E A E   A E A../
          Don't   take your guns to town.