Billy was a young man gone astray
Bottle at his lips all night and day
Mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday
Mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday

Whiskey ate big holes in Billy's head
Summer's day he shot Spud Murphy dead
He said I'm headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red
Yeah, headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red

Mama asked lord jesus what to do
At the door came knocking boys in blue
We're gonna send him up the river and make him pay his dues, ma'am
We're gonna send him up the river and make him pay his dues

And so she watched him round that riverbed go
Billy felt a chill pass 'cross him cold
Sent him up the river to turn a young man old
Yeah, they sent him up the river to turn a young man old