by Bob Dylan



There's guns across the river aimin' at ya

Lawman on your trail, he'd like to catch ya

Bounty hunters, too, they'd like to get ya

Billy, they don't like you to be so free.



Campin' out all night on the berenda

Dealin' cards 'til dawn in the hacienda

Up to Boot Hill they'd like to send ya

Billy, don't you turn your back on me.



Playin' around with some sweet senorita

Into her dark hallway she will lead ya

In some lonesome shadows she will greet ya

Billy, you're so far away from home.



There's eyes behind the mirrors in empty places

Bullet holes and scars between the spaces

There's always one more notch and ten more paces

Billy, and you're walkin' all alone.



They say that Pat Garrett's got your number

So sleep with one eye open when you slumber

Every little sound just might be thunder

Thunder from the barrel of his gun.



Guitars will play your grand finale

Down in some Tularosa alley,

Maybe in the Rio Pecos valley

Billy, you're so far away from home.



There's always some new stranger sneakin' glances

Some trigger-happy fool willin' to take chances

And some old whore from San Pedro to make advances

Advances on your spirit and your soul.



The businessmen from Taos want you to go down

They've hired Pat Garrett to force a showdown.

Billy, don't it make ya feel so low-down

To be shot down by the man who was your friend?



Hang on to your woman if you got one

Remember in El Paso, once, you shot one.

She may have been a whore, but she was a hot one

Billy, you been runnin' for so long.



Guitars will play your grand finale

Down in some Tularosa alley

Maybe in the Rio Pecos valley

Billy, you're so far away from home