As Tabbed by seboddos aka zappy the koala Riff Gm Bb A Gm E |-6-3---3---------------------------------------------------| B |-----6----------------------------------6-----------8------| G |---------6--7-6-7---------------------7-----7-----6--------| D |-5---5---5------5-----5---5---5---8-8-----8---7-7----------| A |-----------------------------------------------------------| E |--------------------3---3---3------------------------------| Verse Riff Bb A4 Gm7 Billy was a young man gone astray Bb A4 Gm7 Bottle at his lips all night and day Chorus Bb A4 Gm7 Mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday Mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday Verse Whiskey ate big holes in Billy's head Summer's day he shot spud murphy dead Chorus He said I'm headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red 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 riverbend go billy felt a chill pass 'cross him Cold they sent him up the river to turn a young man old