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
  And 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