Pretty Boy Floyd
The Byrds · Complete Album Collection [2011]
About pretty boy Floyd the outlaw, Oklahoma knew him well
Was in the town of Shawnee on a Saturday afternoon
His wife beside him in a wagon as into town they rode
And along come a deputy sheriff in a manner rather rude
Using vulgar words of language and his wife she overheard
And pretty boy Floyd grabbed a long chain, and the deputy grabbed a gun
And in the fight that followed, he laid that deputy down
Then he ran through the trees and bushes and lived a life of shame
Every crime in Oklahoma was added to his name
He ran through trees and bushes on the Canadian River shore
And many a starving farmer opened up his door
It was in Oklahoma City, it was on a Christmas day
A whole carload of groceries and a letter that did say
You say that I'm an outlaw, you say that I'm a thief
Well, here's a Christmas dinner for the families on relief
As through this life you travel, you meet some funny men
Some rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen
As through this life you ramble, as through this life you roam
You'll never see an outlaw take a family from their home
Pretty Boy Floyd
Released on The Byrds' 2011 compilation Complete Album Collection, "Pretty Boy Floyd" stands as a quintessential example of the group's 1966 folk-rock sound. Recorded during the band's transition from the psychedelic era of "Turn! Turn! Turn!" to a more refined, acoustic-driven style, the track showcases the distinctive harmonies of Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman. The song draws inspiration from the folk traditions of Bob Dylan and the storytelling of Pete Seeger, blending them with the Byrds' signature Rickenbacker guitar work. It captures the group's ability to adapt their sound to serve the material, offering a melodic and earnest performance that highlights their roots in the American folk revival while maintaining their unique pop sensibility.