Well, early one evening I was rollin' around. I was feelin' kind of mean. I shot a deputy down
Strollin' on home and I went to bed
Well, I laid me pistol up under my head
He strolled along home (I took my time) and he went to bed (Thought I'd sleep some)
Laid his pistol (Big twenty-two) up under his head (I keep it handy)

Well, early in the morning 'bout the break of day, I figured it was time to make a getaway
Steppin' right along but I was steppin' too slow. Got surrounded by a sheriff down in Mexico
He was steppin' right along (Were a-high footin' it) but he was steppin' too slow (It was a sultry day)
Got surrounded by a sheriff (Boxed in) in Mexico. (I didn't even have a chance to see the country.)

When I was arrested, I didn't have a dime. The sheriff says, "Son, you're ridin' free this time
Where you're goin' you won't need a cent 'cause the great state of Texas gonna pay your rent
'Cause where you're goin' (I think he means jail) you won't need a cent (Well, he knows I'm broke)
'Cause the great state of Texas (Yippee!) gonna pay your rent. (I'm mighty grateful, fellas)

Well, I didn't have a key and I didn't have a file. Natur'lly I stayed around until my trial
The judge was an old man; ninety-three and I didn't like the way the jury looked at me
The judge was an old man (Too old) Ninety-three (Entirely too old)
I didn't like the way the jury looked at me. (I think they were suspicious.)

The judge and the jury, they did agree. They all said murder in the first degree
The judge said, "Son, I don't know whether to hang you or not, but this here killin' of deputy sheriffs has just naturally got to stop!" ("You've got a point there, judge!")

It was a most unsatisfactory trial. They gave me ninety-nine years on the hard rock pile
Ninety and nine on the hard rock ground. All I ever did was shoot a deputy down
Ninety and nine (It could have been life.) on the hard rock pile (They might-a hung me)
And all he ever did was shoot a deputy down (This whole thing has sure been a lesson to me. Bang! You're dead!)