A  D  F#m D


[Verse 1]
A                       D
Early one morning, with time to kill
F#m                           D
I borrowed Jeb's rifle, and sat on the hill
A                    D
I saw a lone rider, crossing the plane
F#m                       D
I drew a beed on him, to practice my aim
Bm                      G#dim
My Brother's rifle went off in my hand
    E7             A
A shot rang out across the land
    D                          F#m
The horse he kept running, the rider was dead
A                 D
I hung my head, I hung my head


[Verse 2]
A                     D 
I set off running, to wake from the dream
F#m                        D
My brother's rifle, went into the stream
A                     D
I kept on running, in-to the salt lands
F#m                                  D
And that's where they found me, my head in my hands
Bm                        G#dim
The sheriff he asked me, why had I run
E7                        A
Then it came to me, just what I had done
    D                       F#m
And all for no reason, just one piece of lead
A                 D
I hung my head, I hung my head


[Break]   
A   D  F#m   D


[Verse 3]
A                           D
Here in the courthouse, the whole town is there
F#m                   D
I see the judge, high up in his chair
A                               D
"Explain to the courtroom, what went through your mind
F#m                            D
And we'll ask the jury, what verdict they find"
        Bm                   G#dim
I said "I felt the power, of death over life
  E7                        A
I orphaned his children, I widowed his wife
  D                        F#m
I beg their forgiveness, I wish I was dead"
A                 D
I hung my head, I hung my head
A                 D
I hung my head, I hung my head


[Break]  
A  D  F#m7  D


[Verse 4]
A                       D
Early one morning, with time to kill
F#m                    D
I see the gallows, up on the hill
A                          D
And out in the distance, a trick of the brain
F#m                      D 
I see a lone rider, crossing the plain
Bm                        G#dim
He's come to fetch me, to see what they done
E7                     A
We'll ride together, 'Til kingdom come
  D                          F#m
I pray for God's mercy, for soon I'll be dead
A               D
I hung my head, I hung my head
A               D
I hung my head, I hung my head
A               D
I hung my head, I hung my head