(Like all Woody's songs, the lyrics changed depending on where and when he
was singing, so you may find some different verses, but these lyrics are
probably as right or wrong as any others you'll find. It's a straight
1-4-5 song; if you know the tune, just fool around with D, G, and A until
it sounds right to you.)
If you'll gather 'round me children
A story I will tell
About Pretty Boy Floyd the outlaw
Oklahoma knew him well
It was in the town of Shawnee
On a Sunday afternoon
His wife beside him in their wagon
As into town they rode
There a deputy sheriff approached them
In a manner rather rude
Using vulgar words of language
And his wife she overheard
Well Pretty Boy grabbed a long chain
And the deputy grabbed his gun
And in the fight that followed
He laid that deputy down
Well he took to the trees and timber
To live a life of shame
Every crime in Oklahoma
Was added to his name
Yes he took to the trees and timber
By that Canadian river shore
But Pretty Boy found a welcome
At many a farmer's door
Yes there's many a starving farmer
The same old story's told
How that outlaw paid his mortgage
And saved their little home
Others tell you of a stranger
That came to beg a meal
And underneath his napkin
Left a thousand dollar bill
It was in Oklahoma city
It was on a Christmas Day
There came a whole carload of groceries
With a letter that did say
"Well they say that I'm an outlaw
They say that I'm a theif
Well here's a Christmas dinner
For the families on relief"
Now as through this life I've rambled
I've seen lots of funny men
Some will rob you with a six-gun
And some with a fountain pen
But as through this world you ramble
And as through this world you roam
You won't never find an outlaw
That'd drive a family from their home
