In the days of William Bonney
Better know as Bill the Kid
A young cowboy named Joey Steele
Was 'bout to make his bid.

Well, they heard one day
That Bill the Kid just rode into town
And if he could take him
He would be fastest gun around.

He was just a kid of seventeen
But he had a lightin' hand
And he said it's time I showed the world
That I've become a man.

Everyone thinks Billy is
The fastest gun around
But they will know I'm faster
When they see me shoot him down.

They finally came together
Down on Main Street just at five
The people were all gathered
Wonderin' who'd be left alive.

Billy knew that Joey wanted
Notches on his gun
And he wished that he could give him
Those he'd carved upon his own.

Joey's hand went to his side
He was sure that he had won
But before he even fired he saw
The smoke of Billy's gun.

And he felt the bullet hit him hard
And before his eyes he saw
His wasted life pass quickly
Ending with this fatal draw.

Billy breathed more easily
And he put away his gun
And he tried to ease his conscience
For the wrong that he had done.

Then he saddled up his horse
And headed westward out of town
And he wondered just how long he'd be
The fastest gun around...