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Pretty Boy Floyd

If you'll gather 'round me, children,
A story I will tell
'Bout Pretty Boy Floyd, an outlaw,
Oklahoma knew him well.

It was in the town of Shawnee,
A Saturday afternoon,
His wife beside him in his wagon
As into town they rode.

There a deputy sheriff approached him
In a manner rather rude,
Vulgar words of anger,
An' his wife she overheard.

Pretty Boy grabbed a log chain,
And the deputy grabbed his gun;
In the fight that followed
He laid that deputy down.

Then he took to the trees and timber
To live a life of shame;
Every crime in Oklahoma
Was added to his name.

But a many a starving farmer
The same old story told
How the outlaw paid their mortgage
And saved their little homes.

Others tell you 'bout a stranger
That come to beg a meal,
Underneath his napkin
Left a thousand dollar bill.

It was in Oklahoma City,
It was on a Christmas Day,
There was a whole car load of groceries
Come with a note to say:

Well, you say that I'm an outlaw,
You say that I'm a thief.
Here's a Christmas dinner
For the families on relief.

Yes, as through this world I've wandered
I've seen lots of funny men;
Some will rob you with a six-gun,
And some with a fountain pen.

And as through your life you travel,
Yes, as through your life you roam,
You won't never see an outlaw
Drive a family from their home.

 

Available on:
Dust Bowl Ballads
Woody Guthrie
Buffalo Skinners - Asch Recordings, Volume 4
Woody Guthrie
Library of Congress Recordings
Woody Guthrie
Thinking of Woody Guthrie
Country Joe McDonald
Pastures Of Plenty
The Vanaver Caravan
Woodeye
Joel Rafael

Words and Music by Woody Guthrie
© Copyright 1958 (renewed) by Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc.

Contact The Publisher
Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc. administered by Bug Music
7750 Sunset Boulevard / Los Angeles, CA 90046
T: 323-969-0988 / E: buginfo@bugmusic.com
Website: www.bugmusic.com


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