Bad Man's Blunder

Well, early one evening I was rollin' around
I was feelin' kind of mean
I shot a deputy down
Strollin' on home and I went to bed
Well, I laid me pistol up under my head

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)

Well, early in the morning
'bout the break of day
I figured it was time to make a getaway
Steppin' right along
But I was steppin' too slow
Got surrounded by a sheriff down in Mexico.
He was steppin' right along (I were a 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

When I was arrested, I didn't have a dime
The sheriff says
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

'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)

Well, I didn't have a key
And I didn't have a file
Natur'lly I stayed around until my trial
The judge was an old man; ninety-three
And I didn't like the way the jury looked at me

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

The judge and the jury
They did agree
They all said murder in the first degree
The judge said
Son, I don't know whether to hang you or not
But this here killin' of deputy sheriffs has just naturally got to stop!
You've got a point there, judge!

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

Ninety and nine (It could have been life)
On the hard rock pile (They might-a hung me)
And all he ever did
Was shoot a deputy down

This whole thing has sure been a lesson to me
Bang!
You're dead