Early one morningWith time to killI borrowed Jebb's rifleAnd sat on a hillI saw a lone riderCrossing the plainI drew a bead on himTo practice my aim
My brother's rifleWent off in my handA shot rang outAcross the landThe horse, he kept runningThe rider was deadI hung my headI hung my head
I set off runningTo wake from the dreamMy brother's rifleWent into the sheenI kept on runningInto the south landsThat's where they found meMy head in my hands
The sheriff he asked meWhy had I runAnd then it came to meJust what I had doneAnd all for no reasonJust one piece of leadI hung my headI hung my head
Here in the court houseThe whole town was thereI see the judgeHigh up in his chairExplain to the court roomWhat went through your mindAnd we'll ask the juryWhat verdict they find
I felt the powerOf death over lifeI orphaned his childrenI widowed his wifeI begged their forgivenessI wish I was deadI hung my headI hung my head
I hung my headI hung my head
Early one morningWith time to killI see the gallowsUp on a hillAnd out in the distanceA trick of the brainI see a lone riderCrossing the plain
And he'd come to fetch meTo see what they'd doneAnd we'd ride togetherTo kingdom comeI prayed for god's mercyFor soon I'd be deadI hung my headI hung my head
I hung my headI hung my head