I was born right here in Zion God's own son His Holy Ghost stories and bloodshed never scared me none While they bowed their heads on Sunday I cut out through the hedges and fields Where the light could place its hands on my head In the west hills Free in the west hills Free in the west hills She's got two full-grown children One still on the vine And once I got to know him I loved him like he was mine Some nights we drive up the mouth of the canyon on hillbilly heroin pills We get out and watch the sunset Peaceful and still and free When the sheriff kicked my door down
I was sleeping in my own bed And the mess I got caught up in rained hard down on my head THey got me for possession of them hillbilly heroin pills-- Enough to kill the horses that run free in the west hills If this life was meant for proving I could use more years to live But fifteen in a guardhouse That's more than I'm willing to give And if there really is a judgement When He pulls my chart He'll reject my actions But He will know my heart And he'll prepare a place for me Where happiness instills And the light puts its loving hands on my head Free in the west hills