Billy The Kid
Chris LeDoux Lyrics
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Where the mighty Franklin Mountains guard the trail to Mexico
There's a new made widow crying and a hearse a-rolling slow
And I guess that Devil's passed this way again
There's a lathered Sorrel Stallion running through the Joshua Trees
A young man in the saddle with his coat tails in the breeze
Got a six gun on his right hip and a rifle at his knee
And he's dealing in a game that he can't win
Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six guns, got a bloody tale to tell
You're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of Hell
Them fancy clothes you're wearing and the women in your bed
Can't take away the faces of the men that you left dead
As you ride across the badlands with a price upon your head
Now that wheel or fortune starts to turn
Your reputation's grown 'til it's the biggest in the land
And there ain't a lot of people left who wanna call your hand
And I guess you go down shooting, just like all branded men
When you shake hands with the Devil, you get burned
Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six guns, got a bloody tale to tell
You're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of Hell
Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six guns, got a bloody tale to tell
You're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of Hell
The lyrics of Chris Ledoux's "Billy the Kid" tell the story of the infamous outlaw, Billy Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid. The first stanza sets the stage in Texas, where a widow mourns her husband who has been killed by Billy the Kid. The chorus repeats the line "Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty-one," emphasizing his youth and the fact that he is heading towards his inevitable fate. The second verse describes Billy riding on his Sorrel Stallion through the desert, armed with both a rifle and a sixgun, aware that he's playing a game he can't win. He has a growing reputation and a price on his head, and he's always one step ahead of the law.
The third verse describes Billy's status as a legend, a man whose reputation surpasses his actual deeds. He wears fancy clothes and sleeps with women, but these things cannot erase the fact that he has killed many men. As he rides across the badlands with a price on his head, he knows that his luck will eventually run out. The chorus repeats again, as Billy the Kid remains only twenty-one, but his time is running out. The final verse tells us that there are few people left who want to "call his hand," meaning challenge him to a gunfight. Ultimately, Billy will go down shooting, like all branded men, and when he dies, he'll shake hands with the Devil and get burned.
Line by Line Meaning
In the southern part of Texas, east and west of El Paso
Where the mighty Franklin Mountains guard the trail to Mexico
There's a new made widow crying and a hearse a-rolling slow
And I guess that Devil's passed this way again
The song is set in the southern part of Texas, near the Franklin Mountains on the trail to Mexico. A widow, who recently lost her husband, is mourning as a hearse passes by. The singer suggests that an evil presence, the devil, has recently visited the town.
There's a lathered Sorrel Stallion running through the Joshua Trees
A young man in the saddle with his coat tails in the breeze
Got a six gun on his right hip and a rifle at his knee
And he's dealing in a game that he can't win
A young man, riding on a horse through the Joshua Trees, is armed with a six gun and a rifle. He is playing a dangerous game, aware that his odds of winning are slim.
Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six guns, got a bloody tale to tell
Well, you're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of Hell
The young man on the horse is Billy Bonney, only twenty one years old. Pat Garrett, who is after him, has his name inscribed on every bullet in his gun. Each notch on Billy's gun represents a person he has killed. Despite his predicament, Billy is still able to stay ahead of Garrett.
Them fancy clothes you're wearing and the women in your bed
Can't take away the faces of the men that you left dead
As you ride across the badlands with a price upon your head
Now that wheel or fortune starts to turn
Billy's fancy clothes and women cannot make up for the fact that he has killed people. As he rides through the badlands with a high bounty on his head, he begins to feel the consequences of his actions and the tide starts to turn against him.
Your reputation's grown 'til it's the biggest in the land
And there ain't a lot of people left who wanna call your hand
And I guess you go down shooting, just like all branded men
And when you shake hands with the Devil, you get burned
Billy's notoriety has grown to the point where he is the most wanted man in the land. Few people are willing to confront him. The artist predicts that Billy will most likely die in a shootout, like many other notorious outlaws. The Devil is often used as a metaphor for the consequences of one's actions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Charlie Daniels
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheAdjenadi
In the southern part of Texas, East and West of El Paso
Where the mighty Franklin Mountains guard the trail to Mexico
There's a new made widow cryin' and a hearse a-rollin' slow
And I guess that devil's passed this way again
There's a lathered sorrel stallion runnin' through the Joshua trees
A young man in the saddle with his coattails in the breeze
Got a six gun on his right hip and a rifle at his knee
And he's dealin' in a game that he can't win
Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty-one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six-gun's got a bloody tale to tell
You're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of hell
Them fancy clothes you're wearin' and the women in your bed
Can't take away the faces of the men that you left dead
As you ride across the badlands with a price upon your head
Now that wheel of fortune starts to turn
Your reputation's grown 'til it's the biggest in the land
And there ain't a lot of people left who wanna call your hand
And I guess you'll go down shootin' just like all brand of men
When you shake hands with the devil, you get burned
Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty-one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six-gun's got a bloody tale to tell
You're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of hell
Poor Billy Bonney, you're only twenty-one
Pat Garrett's got your name on every bullet in his gun
Each notch you carved on your six-gun's got a bloody tale to tell
You're a mile ahead of Garrett and a step outside of hell
@trentrichardson4428
Chris Ledoux was and forever will be not only a true cowboy, but also a one-of-a-kind legend of real music. The "Young Guns" scenes fit well and add to the feel and mood of this song. In response to some other replies as to westerns and cowboy music dying, you can't expect a cupcake "me too" generation to follow real men and legends.
@michris21
Miss Chris and his style of country. Need more of this.
@theking-nz1ut
Billy the kid has always been one of my wild west Hero's. Along with Jesse James and Ned Kelly.
@kyleshiflet9952
Ned Kelly the real life Iron Man from Australia he's one of mine and my favorite is John Wesley Harden from my hometown of Bonham Texas
@codysmith4209
Kyle Shiflet Wes hardins mine too
@kyleshiflet9952
@@codysmith4209 the man who shot a man for snoring
@boiboi3237
my was william bonney and doc holliday
@kyleshiflet9952
@@boiboi3237 cant go wrong with Doc
@ruthgreen5908
Lincoln, NM is still standing and loaded with this time in history, it's like stepping back in time
@mattwilliams630
If you go to lincoln , stand in front of the courte house, facing south. Turn slowly to your right and look up on the hill, thats where billy would watch the town. You may feel ure being watched. I did