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
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