Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash & The Jordanaires
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
During his VH1 Storytellers performance with Willie Nelson, Cash revealed that he based the melody for this song on the Irish song “Clancy Lowered the Boom”, which Cash described as traditional but which was actually written by Hy Heath and Johnny Lange.
First released in 1958 as a 7" single with “...
[Verse 1]
A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm
A boy filled with wonderlust who really meant no harm
He changed his clothes and shined his boots
And combed his dark hair down
And his mother cried as he walked out
[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home, Bill
Don't take your guns to town
[Verse 2]
He laughed and kissed his mom
And said, "Your Billy Joe's a man
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause
I'd gun nobody down,"
But she cried again as he rode away
[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town, son
Leave your guns at home, Bill
Don't take your guns to town
[Verse 3]
He sang a song as on he rode
His guns hung at his hips
He rode into a cattle town
A smile upon his lips
He stopped and walked into a bar
And laid his money down
But his mother's words echoed again
[Chorus]
"Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home, Bill
Don't take your guns to town,"
[Verse 4]
He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
And tried to tell himself at last he had become a man
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
And he heard again his mother's words
[Chorus]
"Don't take your guns to town, son
Leave your guns at home, Bill
Don't take your guns to town,"
[Verse 5]
Filled with rage then
Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
But the stranger drew his gun and fired
Before he even saw
As Billy Joe fell to the floor
The crowd all gathered around
And wondered at his final words
[Chorus]
"Don't take your guns to town, son
Leave your guns at home, Bill
Don't take your guns to town,"
Don’t Take Your Guns to Town was written by Johnny Cash.
Don’t Take Your Guns to Town was produced by Al Quaglieri & Don Law.
Johnny Cash released Don’t Take Your Guns to Town on Mon Nov 03 1958.