D  G  D  A    G  D  A  D

[Verse]
                     G      D        A
Billy Grey rode into Gantry, back in Eighty-three
G            D                  A
There he did meet young Sarah McCray
     D            G        D           A
This wild rose of morning, pale flower dawning
G          D            A                   D
Herald of springtime in his young life that day

[Verse]
                    G       D             A
Sarah she could not see the daylight of reality
   G                    D          A
In her young eyes Billy bore not a flaw
    D           G          D           A
Not knowing her chosen one was a hired gun
G         D           A      D
Wanted in Kansas City by the law

[Instrumental]
D G D A    G D A
D G D A    G D A D

[Verse]
               G              D                 A
Then one day a tall man, came riding 'cross the badlands
     G          D            A
That lie to the north of New Mexico
D                   G          D                 A
He was overheard to say he was looking for Billy Grey
  G        D         A            D
A ruthless man and a dangerous outlaw

[Verse]
                     G               D         A
The deadly news came creeping, while Billy lay sleeping
G            D                  A
There in the Claredon Bar and Hotel
   D              G           D            A
He headed for the old church, there on the outskirts
G           D         A           D
Thinking to climb the old steeple bell

[Verse]
                  G            D           A
A rifle ball came flying, face down he lay dying
G                        D             A
There in the dust of the road where he fell
D             G    D           A
Sarah came to him, cursing the lawman
  G          D            A              D
Accepting no reason, just knowing he was killed

[Verse]
                   G        D           A
Sarah lives in the same old white frame house
G                   D                       A
Where she first met Billy some forty years ago
    D            G           D              A
The wild rose of morning had faded with the dawning
   G           D          A              D
Of each day of sorrow the long years had sown

[Outro]
             G               D                    A
There on the stone where the dusty winds had long blown
G             D                        A
Were eighteen words to a passing world say
 D                  G          D            A
"True love knows no season, no rhyme nor no reason
G          D           A               D
Justice is cold as the Grainger County clay"