I'll sing you a true song of Billy the Kid
I'll sing of the reckless deeds that he did
Way out in New Mexico a long time ago
When a man's only friend was his own forty-four

When Billy the Kid was a very young lad
In old Silver City he went to the bad
Way out in the west with a knife in his hand
At the age of twelve years he killed his first man

Fair Mexico maidens play guitars and sing
Songs about Billy their boy bandit king
Now here is young manhood that reached its sad end
He'd notch on his pistol for twenty-one men

Now 'twas on the same night that poor Billy died
He said to his friends:"I'm not satisfied
It's twenty-one men that I've put bullets through
And sherriff Pat Garrett's gonna make twenty-two"

Now this is how Billy the Kid met his fate
The bright moon was shining and the hour was late
Shot down by Pat Garrett who once was his friend
The poor outlaw's life had reached its sad end

Now this is the true song of Billy the Kid
These were the reckless deeds that he did
Way out in New Mexico a long time ago
When a man's only friend was his own forty-four

There's many a fine boy with a face fine and fair
Who starts out in life with a chance to be square
But just like poor Billy he wanders astray
Then he loses his life in the very same way