early one morning with time to kill i borrowed jeb s rifle and sat on the hill i saw a lone rider crossing the plain i drew a bead on him to practice my aim my brother s rifle went off in my hand a shot rang out across the land the horse he kept running the rider was dead i hung my head i hung my head i set off running to wake from the dream and my brother s rifle went into the stream i kept on running into the salt lands and that s where they found me my head in my hands the sheriff he asked me why had i run then it came to me just what i had done and all for no reason just one piece of lead i hung my head i hung my head here in the courthouse the whole town is there i see the judge high up in his chair explain to the courtroom what went through your mind and we ll ask the jury what verdict they find i said i felt the power of death over life i orphaned his children i widowed his wife i beg their forgiveness i wish i was dead i hung my head i hung my head early one morning with time to kill i see the gallows up on the hill and out in the distance a trick of the brain i see a lone rider crossing the plain he s come to fetch me to see what they done we ll ride together til kingdom come i pray for god s mercy for soon i ll be dead i hung my head i hung my head