Early one morning
With time to kill
I borrowed Jebb´s rifle
And sat on a hill
I saw a lone rider

Crossing the plain
I drew a bead on him
To practice my aim

My brother´s rifle
Went of 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 sheen
I kept on running

Into the south lands
That´s where they found me
My head and my hands

The sheriff he asked me
Why had I run
And then it came to me
Just what I had done
And all for no reason
Just one peace of lead
I hung my head
I hung my head

Here in the court house
The whole town was there
I see the judge
High up in the chair
Explain to the court room

What went through you mind
And we´ll ask the jury
What verdict they find

I felt the power
Of death over life
I orphaned his children
I widowed his wife
I begged their forgiveness
I wish I was dead
I hung my head
I hung my head

I hung my head
I hung my head

Early one morning
With time to kill

I see the gallows
Up on a hill
And out in the distance
A trick of the brain
I see a lone rider
Crossing the plain

And he´d come to fetch me
To see what they´d done
And we´d ride together
To kingdom come
I prayed for god´s mercy
For soon I´d be dead
I hung my head
I hung my head

I hung my head
I hung my head