Johnny Cash – Dont Take Your Guns To Town (Guitar)

Capo 1 Video Lesson
Key
-
Versions (2)

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Chords

[Intro] A A [Verse 1]
  A                                  E                  A
A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm,

                                  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                 A
Don't take your guns to town."
[Verse 2]
   A                                        E               A
He laughed and kissed his mom and said, "your Billy Joe's a man.

                                    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]
       D                 A
"Don't take your guns to town, son.

D                  A
Leave your guns at home, Bill.

      D                 A
Don't take your guns to town."
[Verse 3]
   A                       E                   A
He sang a song as on he rode, his guns hung at his hips.

                             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]
       D                 A
"Don't take your guns to town, son.

D                  A
Leave your guns at home, Bill.

      D                 A
Don't take your guns to town."
[Verse 4]
   A                                   E                A   
He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand,

                                    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]
       D                 A
"Don't take your guns to town, son.

D                  A
Leave your guns at home, Bill.

       D                A
Don't take your guns to town."
[Verse 5]
A                                    E              A
Filled with rage the Billy Joe reached for his gun to Draw

                                           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:
[Chorus]
       D                 A
"Don't take your guns to town, son.

D                            A
Leave your guns at home, Bill.

      D                 A
Don't take your guns to town."