[Verse 1]
In the southern part of Texas, east and west of El Paso
Where the mighty Franklin Mountains guard the trail to Mexico
Theres a new made widow cryin' and a hearse a-rollin slow
And I guess that Devil's passed this way again

[Verse 2]
Theres a lathered sorrel stallion runnin through the Joshua Trees
A young man in the saddle with his coat tails in the breeze
Got a six gun on his right hip and a rifle at his knee
And he's dealin' in a game that he can't win

[Chorus
Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty-one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six-gun's got a bloody tale to tell
Well, you're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of hell

[Verse 3]
Them fancy clothes you're wearin' and the women in your bed
Can't take away the faces of the men that you left dead
As you ride across the badlands with a price upon your head
Now that wheel of fortune starts to turn

[Verse 4]
Your reputation's grown 'til its the biggest in the land
And there ain't a lot of people left who wanna call your hand
And I guess you'll go down shootin' just like all branded men
And when you shake hands with the Devil you get burned
[Chorus]
Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty-one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six-gun's got a bloody tale to tell
Well, you're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of hell

[Instrumental]

[Chorus]
Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty-one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six-gun's got a bloody tale to tell
You're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of hell