Willie Nelson not only recorded this song,
but he titled the record album after the song.
But Della Reese recorded it before Willie Nelson did,
and hers is the version I heard on radio broadcasts.
Here it is, in memory of Della Reese.

THE TROUBLEMAKER

I could tell from the moment that I saw him
He was nothing but the trouble-making kind
His hair was much too long
And his motley group of friends
Had nothing but rebellion on their minds

He's rejected the establishment completely
And I know for sure he's never had a job
He just goes from town to town
Stirring up the young people
'Til they're nothing but a disrespectful mob

And I know for sure he's never joined the army
And served his country like we all have done;
He'd rather wear his sandals and his flowers
While others wage the war that must be won

They arrested him last week and found him guilty
Sentenced him to die, and it's no great loss
They will take him to a place called Calvary
And hang that troublemaker on a cross

authors:
Bruce G. Belland, David Troy Somerville
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.