[Verse 1]
Well I wish I had a shotgun, I'd tie it to my side
Never be without the power to make a man do right
Steady on my shoulders, standing in the wind
I've been down before, but I won't be down again

[Verse 2]
And if I had a pony, how fast I would ride
Yippie-tiy-iy-ay with the shotgun at my side
An outlaw to my foes, a hero to my friends
I've been down before, but I won't be down again

[Verse 3]
The days would be so easy and the nights would be so slow
I'd turn my pony south, boys, and ride to Mexico
My pockets full of silver to gamble or to lay
'Cause I've been down before, but I won't be down again

[Verse 4]
But I ain't got no silver, no pony, no gun
All I got's this hammer like old John Henry swung
Been ten years on this chain gang, one more day and then
I've been down before, but I won't be down again

[Outro]
Now standing on this rock pile of four and twenty men
Well I've been down before, but I won't be down again
I've been down before, but I won't be down again