Written by Traditional
verse 1 G I'll sing you a true song of Billy the Kid D G I'll sing you the record of deeds that he did G Way out in New Mexico a long time ago G D G When a man's only friend was his own forty-four verse 2 G Now when Billy the Kid was a very young lad D G In old Silver City he went to the bad G Way out west with a knife in his hand G D G At the age of twelve years he killed his first man verse 3 G Fair Mexican maidens play guitars and sing D G Songs about Billy, their boy bandit king G Before his young manhood had reached its sad end G D G He'd a notch on his pistol for twenty-one men Instrumental G G G G D D G G G G G G G G D G (x2) verse 4 G It was on one black night that poor Billy died D G He said to his friends, "I'm not satisfied G There's twenty-one men that I've put bullets through G D G And sheriff Pat Garrett's gonna make twenty-two" Verse 5 G Well, this is how Billy the Kid met his fate D G A big moon was shining and the hour was late G Shot down by Pat Garrett, Silver City's best friend G D G The poor outlaw's life had reached its sad end