Death bells are ringing in Wichita town   Two brothers will meet when the sun's going down   Blood's thicker than water poor mother cry   Which son will live which son will die      Jimmy Laredo a man with a dream   Sent his young brother Johnny to old Abilene   To bring back his true love by name   Katy Lee the girl he attended his bride to be      The trip was along when they both came to know   That sometimes from friendship a sweet love would grow   He's bringing her back in a new weddin' gown   And there'll be a show down in Wichita town      Jimmy's not worried his six gun's tied down   And no one outdraws him in Wichita town   But can he do it can he kill his kin   Blood's thicker than water his, ma, cries again      The stage made it stop at the Last Chance Saloon   The crowd all stepped back to give both brothers room   Young Johnny stepped down there was fear in his eyes   But for lover pity he'd gladly die      They still tell the story to this very day   How their, ma, jumped between them when Jim made it play   She cried out in anguish oh sons are you blind   If you must take a life oh Lord let it be mine      Death bells are ringing in Wichita town   They mourn for a mother whose son's shot her down   And there in the Wichita's street where she lay   Blood's thicker than water her smile seemed to say