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 river bend
Go billy felt a chill pass 'cross him
Cold they sent him up the river
To turn a young man old