[Verse 1]
Well, early one evenin' I was roamin' around
I was feelin' kind of mean, I shot a deputy down
Strolled along home, and I went to bed
Well, I laid my pistol up under my head

[Chorus]
(He strolled along home) I took my time
(And he went to bed) Thought I'd sleep some
(Laid his pistol) Big twenty-two
(Up under his head) I keep it handy

[Verse 2]
Well, early in mornin' 'bout the break of day
I figured it was time to make my getaway
Steppin' right along but I was steppin' too slow
Got surrounded by a sheriff down in Mexico

[Chorus]
(He was steppin' right along) I were hot-footin' it
(But he was steppin' too slow) It was a sultry day
(Got surrounded by a sheriff) Boxed in
(In Mexico) I didn't even have a chance to see the country

[Verse 3]
When I was arrested, well, I didn't have a dime
The sheriff said, "Son, you're ridin' free this time
Where you're goin' you won't need a cent
'Cause the great state of Texas gonna pay your rent"
[Chorus]
("'Cause where you're goin'") I think he means jail
("You won't need a cent") Well, he knows I'm broke
("'Cause the great state of Texas") Yippee!
("Gonna pay your rent") I'm mighty grateful, fellas

[Verse 4]
Well, I didn't have a key, and I didn't have a file
Naturally I stayed around until my trial
Judge was an old man, ninety-three
And I didn't like the way the jury looked at me

[Chorus]
(Well, the judge was an old man) Too old
(Ninety-three) Entirely too old
I didn't like the way
The jury looked at me, I think they were suspicious

[Verse 5]
(The judge and the jury, they did agree)
(They all said, "Murder in the first degree")
(The judge said, same, "I don't know whether to hang you or not
But this here killin' of deputy sheriffs has just naturally got to stop")
You got a point there, judge!

[Verse 6]
It was a most unsatisfactory trial
They gave me ninety-nine years on the hard rock pile
Ninety and nine on the hard rock ground
All I ever did was shoot a deputy down
[Chorus]
(Ninety and nine) It could have been life
(On the hard rock pile) They might've hung me
(And all he ever did)
(Was shoot a deputy down) This whole thing has sure been a lesson to me

[Outro]
Bang! You're dead!