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
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
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
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
