Billy was a young man gone astray

Bottle at his lips all night and day

Mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday

Mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday

Whiskey ate big holes in Billy's head

Summer's day he shot spud murphy dead

He said i'm headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red

Yeah headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red

Mama asked Lord Jesus what to do

At the door came knocking boys in blue

We're gonna send him up the river and make him pay his dues ma'am

We're gonna send him up the river and make him pay his dues

And so she watched him round that riverbend go

Billy felt a chill pass 'cross him cold

They sent him up the river to turn a young man old

Yeah They sent him up the river to turn a young man old