COWBOY

By Dan Bern

Transcribed by Jeff

E                                   B
I lived my days as a cowboy
C#m                               A
For three years, in my youth
E                               B
I rustled cattle in Missouri
      C#m                             A
And brought them up to Duluth
A                                          E
One time when I was in Reno
                                         B                A
I shot a man so I could be like Johnny Cash
A                                                          E
Some other time I was broke and busted
                                       B                        A
I slept on thistles and broke out in a rash

E                  B
I done my traveling
C#m            A
I done my traveling
   E                                   B
From now on it's just gambling,
     C#m                   A
That I'll be doing here
           E
Be doing here
(E)(B)(A)

Well, Texas she was calling
Even back there in Des Monies
Some girl or some idea
About a sack full of silver coins
Met this Hungarian girl in El Paso
Who let me watch her get dressed
Through my rambling and through my roaming
I always loved her the best

I done my traveling
I done my traveling
From now on it's just gambling,
That I'll be doing here
Be doing here

If I'd never got past Dakota
I'd have never seen the Jersey shore
Or the great Pacific
Up to Alaska
Where the whales come up from the ocean floor
But if I never left old Ottumwa
I'd just Mississippi more
Mississippi

I'm still a cowboy
I get up early
When darkness is in your eyes
I like to drink my coffee
And watch that sucker rise
I watch the clouds roll crazy over
Clear up to the heat of noon
And the cornfield
Grinning, waving
Shaking you right out of your pantaloons

I'm back now in El Paso
With my mad Hungarian by my side
We go gambling, when I ain't rambling
It's a real good ride

 

I've done my traveling
I've done my travelling
From now on its just gambling
That I'll be doing here
That I'll be doing here