I smiled at her and she smiled back at me
I asked her to walk with me along the beach
I took her arm as we strolled by the sea
I smiled at her and she smile back at me

She told me her father did live by the gun
And if he saw me she said I should run
I saw him comin' as I turned around
So I ran away to the heart of the town
And bought me a gun to shoot that man down

Late in the night by the old apple tree
I met that girl and she promised to me
That she'd always love till her dyin' day
I truly believed every word she would say
I held her tightly then she walked away

I knew that her father had spoken 'bout me
And his daughter's wishes he could not agree
He came after me 'cause he wanted me dead
So I pulled out my pistol and blew off his head
He lay on the ground and I filled him with lead

The neighbors heard gunshot a-rain in the night
When they came and got me, I put up no fight
I could have been hung from the old apple tree
It was self-defense, so it never would be
So I beat the noose and I walked away free

I'm still around and my girl's by my side
I beat the noose, it's not time yet to die
And what a bright mornin', light shines down on me
My girl, she will marry, yes, marry me
We'll live in the house by the old apple tree