i hung my head

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 bead 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