Country singer Al Dexter wrote and then sang this song to the top of the pop charts in the summer of 1943. Bing and the Andrews Sisters recorded the song Sept. 27, 1943, and proved there were still a few bullets left in Ma's pistol. Their version landed for 4 weeks in the No. 2 position of the pop charts and sold more than a million copies, earning Bing yet another gold record. Bing's recording also had the distinction of being the first song to top the first Billboard country music chart when it was introduced Jan. 8, 1944.
Lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama Lay that pistol down. Oh, drinkin beer in a cabaret Was I havin fun! Until one night she caught me right And now I'm on the run. Oh, lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama Lay that pistol down. Oh, I'll sing you every night Bing And I'll woo you every day. I'll be your regular mama And I'll put that gun away. Oh, lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama Lay that thing down before it goes off and hurts somebody! Oh, she kicked out my windshield And she hit me over the head. She cussed and cried and said I lied And she wished that I was dead. Oh, lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama Lay that pistol down. We're 3 tough gals From deep down Texas way. We got no pals They don't like the way we play. We're a rough rootin tootin shootin trio But you ought to see my sister Cleo She's a terror make no error But there ain't no nicer terror Here's what we tell her: Lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama Lay that pistol down Pappy made a batch of corn The revenuers came. The draugh was slow So now they know You can't do that to Mame. Lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama Lay that pistol down Oh, singing songs in a cabaret Was I havin fun! Until one night it didn't seem right And now I'm on the run. Oh, lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama Lay that pistol down. Oh, pistol packin mama Lay that pistol down.