Words and music by Woody Guthrie

Well, the new sheriff wrote me a letter
Yes, the new sheriff wrote me a letter
Come up and see me, dead or alive
Come up and see me, dead or alive

CHORUS 1:
Dead or alive, if s a hard road
It's a hard road, dead or alive

Well, he even sent me my picture
Yes, he even sent me my picture
How do I look, boys, dead or alive?
How do I look, boys, dead or alive? (Chorus I)

Well, he said he would pay expenses
Yes, he said he would pay expenses
Dead or alive, no thanks!
New sheriff, I'm a poor boy

CHORUS 2:
If s a hard road, dead or alive
Dead or alive, if s a hard road

Well, he said he would feed and do the me
Yes, he said he would feed and do the me
Dead or alive, no thanks!
New sheriff, I'm a poor boy (Chorus 2)

Well, I'm sorry but I can't come, sheriff
Yes, I'm sorry but I can't come, sheriff
Dead or alive, no thanks!
New sheriff, I'm a poor boy (Chorus 2)

I don't like your hard rock hotel
I don't like your hard rock hotel
Dead or alive, new sheriff
No thanks, I'm a poor boy (Chorus 2)

I gotta go down and see my little sweet thing f
Gonna go down and see my little sweet thing
Dead or alive, yes, Lord!
No thanks, new sheriff (Chorus 2)