[Verse 1] Garrett caught him cornered underneath a winter sky, Stone walls at Stinking Springs, and Charlie left to die. The judge spoke of hanging, and they hauled him back in chains, Past streets that knew his laughter, past windows that knew his name. They locked him in the old House store — his enemies' own walls — And he counted every footstep passing down the halls. Billy watched the daylight crawl across that wooden floor, Measuring his freedom by the shadows on the door. [Pre-Chorus] One man upstairs, One man below. Thirty days till hanging... And the clock was moving slow. [Chorus] Two men down, And the Kid rides free. Iron on the floor, Horse beneath his knees. Two men down, Hear the whole town say: You can build Billy a gallows... But you can't make Billy stay. [Verse 2] Bell was the easy one, who'd laugh and share a smoke, Till a pistol came from nowhere and the moment broke. A scramble on the staircase, a shot he'd not forget — Bell stumbled out to die, the one Billy would regret. Olinger came running when he heard the shot ring out, Billy took the shotgun Olinger had bragged about. He leaned from the window and he called, "Hello, Bob" — One blast broke the silence... And the shotgun did its job. [Pre-Chorus] One man upstairs, One man below. The courthouse doors are open... And Billy's got to go. [Chorus] Two men down, And the Kid rides free. Iron on the floor, Horse beneath his knees. Two men down, Hear the whole town say: You can build Billy a gallows... But you can't make Billy stay. [Bridge – half-time] Don't make him a hero. Don't make him a saint. Two men stopped breathing So Billy could escape. Freedom has a price, And somebody always pays. Billy bought a little time... With two lives that day. [Instrumental Break Drums kick into a galloping rhythm. Dirty electric guitar and frantic fiddle trade fast phrases as the escape begins]. [Final Chorus] Two men down, And Billy rides again. Lincoln disappearing Like a ghost behind the rain. Two men down, And Garrett knows his name. Billy beat the gallows... But he didn't beat the game. [Outro] Mexico's south, Billy. Ride hard. But he turned his horse north... To the only place that ever felt like home. Fort Sumner.
