Bad Mans Blunder

	  		
Verse 
E                                                                                  B7     E 
Well, early one evening I was rollin' around. I was feelin' kind of mean. I shot a deputy down. 
E                                                              B7       E 
Strollin' on home and I went to bed. Well, I laid me pistol up under my head. 

A 
He strolled along home (I took my time) 
       E 
and he went to bed (Thought I'd sleep some) 
B7 
Laid his pistol (Big twenty-two) 
   E 
up under his head (I keep it handy) 

Verse 
E                                                                                  B7   E 
Well, early in the morning 'bout the break of day, I figured it was time to make a getaway. 
E                                                                                  B7     E 
Steppin' right along but I was steppin' too slow. Got surrounded by a sheriff down in Mexico. 

A 
He was steppin' right along (Were a-high footin' it) 
           E 
but he was steppin' too slow (It was a sultry day) 
    B7 
Got surrounded by a sheriff (Boxed in) 
   E 
in Mexico. (I didn't even have a chance to see the country.) 

Verse 
E                                                                                B7        E 
When I was arrested, I didn't have a dime. The sheriff says, "Son, you're ridin' free this time. 
E                                                                              B7       E 
Where you're goin' you won't need a cent 'cause the great state of Texas gonna pay your rent. 

A 
'Cause where you're goin' (I think he means jail) 
E 
you won't need a cent (Well, he knows I'm broke) 
B7 
'Cause the great state of Texas (Yippee!) 
E 
gonna pay your rent. (I'm mighty grateful, fellas) 

Verse 
E                                                                                   B7  E 
Well, I didn't have a key and I didn't have a file. Natur'lly I stayed around until my trial. 
E                                                                         B7        E 
The judge was an old man; ninety-three and I didn't like the way the jury looked at me. 

A 
The judge was an old man (Too old) 
E 
Ninety-three (Entirely too old) 
  B7                           E 
I didn't like the way the jury looked at me. (I think they were suspicious.) 

Verse 
E                                                                   B7      E 
The judge and the jury, they did agree. They all said murder in the first degree. 
          E 
The judge said, "Son, I don't know whether to hang you or not, but this here killin' of  
N.C. 
deputy sheriffs has just naturally got to stop!" ("You've got a point there, judge!") 

E F 

Verse 
F                                                                         C7        F 
It was a most unsatisfactory trial. They gave me ninety-nine years on the hard rock pile. 
F                                                                   C7     F 
Ninety and nine on the hard rock ground. All I ever did was shoot a deputy down. 

Bb 
Ninety and nine (It could have been life.) 
       F 
on the hard rock pile (They might-a hung me) 
    C7                          F          F  Bb  F  Bb  F 
And all he ever did was shoot a deputy down 
(This whole thing has sure been a lesson to me. Bang! You're dead!)