作词 : Bud Freeman/Leon Pober
 作曲 : Bud Freeman/Leon Pober
Well, they're hanging Joe Bean this morning
For killing a man in Arkansas
Funny thing about it,
Joe Bean has never been to Arkansas
And to top that
Joe Bean never even heard of the man
In fact
Today is Joe Bean's twentieth birthday
See through the prison bars Joe Bean
See where the gallows stand
Just twenty short years from the day you were born
You'll die by the hangman's hand
Yes they're hanging Joe Bean this morning
For a shooting that he never did
He killed twenty men
By the time he was ten
He was an unruly kid
Yes they're hanging Joe Bean
For the one shooting that he never did
Well Joe your mother's at the Capitol
Asking Governor for a stay
And it's hard on her
'Cause she knows where you were
On that particular day
You were working, Joe Bean
Hard working
Robbing the Santa Fe
Well, the telegraph wires are hummin'
Here, the Governor's words come through
He said i can't set you free, 'cause it's not up to me
But this much, Joe Bean, I'll do
I'll join your mother in extending
Birthday greetings to you
Happy Birthday, Joe Bean