Pretty Boy Floyd

by Woody Guthrie – 1939

The pertinent verses:

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.

This song was written in March 1939, five years after Floyd’s death. It has been recorded and performed by many country and folk musicians over the years, including Arlo Guthrie, The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Roseanne Cash, and James Taylor.

Woody Guthrie died at the age of 55 in 1967.

Aside:
What’s the “missing” verses from Guthrie’s wonderful anthem “This Land is Your Land” — with the refrain of “This land was made for you and me.”  So exactly what are the verses that were cut out of the All-America version that we love and know — the verses that aren’t in the lyrics seen and sung all over the country?

As I went walking I saw a sign there,
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing.
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Pretty Boy Floyd

Words and Music by Woody Guthrie – 1939

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
Along the river shore,
Hiding on the river bottom
And he never come back no more.

Yes, 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 starvin’ 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.

Click on the start-triangle at the center of each video to play the music.

The Byrds — Original Version

“Legacy Edition” 

James Taylor

Bob Dylan – Live