[Strophe]
D 
The red headed stranger from Blue Rock, Montana, 
                   A 
Rode into town one day. 
    D                      G            D 
And under his knees, was a raging black stallion, 
E                    A 
Walking behind was a bay. 
    D 
The red headed stranger had eyes like thunder, 
                               A 
And his lips they were sad and tired. 
    D                     G            D 
His little lost love lay asleep on the hillside, 
        A                     D    G  D 
And his heart was as heavy as night.
[Refrain]
      G 
Don't cross him, don't boss him, 
     D 
He's wild in his sorrow, 
                      A7 
Ridin' and hidin' his pain. 
      G 
Don't fight him, don't spite him, 
     D 
Just wait 'til tomorrow, 
A                    D    G  D/F#  D  G  D/F# 
Maybe he'll ride on again.
[Strophe]
D 
Yellow haired lady leaned out of her window, 
                         A 
Watched as he passed her way. 
    D                        G            D 
She drew back in fear at the sight of the stallion, 
    E                       A 
But cast greedy eyes on the bay. 
D 
How could she know that the dancin' bay pony 
                       A 
Meant more to him than life? 
D                           G           D 
This was the horse that his little lost darlin' 
    A                       D 
Had ridden when she was his wife.
[Refrain]
      G 
Don't cross him, don't boss him, 
     D 
He's wild in his sorrow, 
                      A7 
Ridin' and hidin' his pain. 
      G 
Don't fight him, don't spite him, 
     D 
Just wait 'til tomorrow, 
A                    D    G  D/F#  D  G  D/F# 
Maybe he'll ride on again.
[Strophe]
D 
Yellow haired lady came down to the tavern, 
                           A 
And looked up the stranger there. 
   D                      G             D 
He bought her a drink and gave her some money, 
   E                   A 
He just didn't seem to care. 
    D 
She followed him out as he saddled the stallion, 
                                  A 
And laughed as she grabbed at the bay. 
   D                          G          D 
He shot her so quick they had no time to warn her, 
    A                  D 
She never heard anyone say:
[Refrain]
      G 
Don't cross him, don't boss him, 
     D 
He's wild in his sorrow, 
                      A7 
Ridin' and hidin' his pain. 
      G 
Don't fight him, don't spite him, 
     D 
Just wait 'til tomorrow, 
A                    D    G  D/F#  D  G  D/F# 
Maybe he'll ride on again.
[Strophe]
    D 
The yellow haired lady was buried at sunset, 
                          A 
The stranger went free of course. 
        D               G              D 
For you can't hang a man for killing a woman, 
E                          A 
Who's trying to steal your horse. 
D 
This is the tale of the red headed stranger 
                           A 
And if he should pass your way, 
D                       G            D 
Stay out of path of the ragin' black stallion 
    A                       D 
And don't lay a hand on the bay.
[Refrain]
      G 
Don't cross him, don't boss him, 
     D 
He's wild in his sorrow, 
                      A7 
Ridin' and hidin' his pain. 
      G 
Don't fight him, don't spite him, 
     D 
Just wait 'til tomorrow, 
A                    D    G  D/F#  D  G  D/F# 
Maybe he'll ride on again.