Lyrics

He was only thirteen, he was only a kid
He couldn't be blamed for the deed that he did
His mama was ailing, his daddy was dead
He had three little sisters who had to be fed
His daddy was gone, so he worked all alone
The drought it was endless, the soil had blown
And the man from the bank held a note from his dad
The boy tried to pay him what little they had
(The boy tried to pay him what little they had)

His ma was in bed 'cause she wasn't quite well
His sisters were cryn' and starting to yell
When the dust on the road to the house, it arose
The man from the bank, he had come to foreclose
The boy grabbed the shotgun from down off the wall
He stood in the doorway and tried to look tall
He said "This is my farm, sir, for good or for ill,
My daddy lies buried on top of that hill"
(His daddy lies buried on top of that hill)

The man from the bank, he just gave him a sneer
He said "Pack your bags kid, you're trespassin' here"
The boy tried to warn him, his threat was ignored
The man grabbed the shotgun, the barrel it roared
He was only thirteen, he was only a kid
He shouldn't be blamed for the deed that he did
Of first degree murder this boy stands accused
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I leave it to you