C F
C F
C C

[Verse 1]

C                      F
Early one morning with time to kill
  Am                        F
I borrowed Jebb's rifle and sat on the hill
  C                F
I saw a lone rider crossing the plain
  Am                    F
I drew a bead on him to practice my aim
Dm                      G
My brother's rifle went off in my hand
  G             C
A shot rang out across the land
    F                           Am
The horse, he kept running, the rider was dead
  C               F
I hung my head, I hung my head 

C C

[Verse 2]

C                    F
I set off running to wake from the dream
Am                      F
My brother's rifle went into the sheen
C                 F
I kept on running into the south lands
    Am                         F
That's where they found me, my head in my hands
    Dm                  G
The sheriff he asked me why had I run
    G                       C
And then it came to me just what I had done
    F                       Am
And all for no reason, just one piece of lead
  C               F
I hung my head, I hung my head 

C C

[Verse 3]

C                           F
Here in the courthouse, the whole town was there
Am                   F
I see the judge high up in his chair
  C                           F
Explain to the courtroom what went through your mind
    Am                      F
And we'll ask the jury what verdict they find
Dm                  G
I felt the power of death over life
    G                      C
I orphaned his children, I widowed his wife
  F                        Am
I beg their forgiveness, I wish I was dead
  C               F
I hung my head, I hung my head 
  C               F
I hung my head, I hung my head
C C

[Verse 4]

C                      F
Early one morning with time to kill
Am                F
I see the gallows up on the hill
    C                      F
And out in the distance, a trick of the brain
  Am               F
I see a lone rider crossing the plain
    Dm                       G
And he's come to fetch me to see what they done
    G                   C
And we'll ride together 'Til kingdom come
  F                        Am
I pray for God's mercy for soon I'll be dead
  C               F
I hung my head, I hung my head 
  C               F
I hung my head, I hung my head