Marty Robbins - Cottonwood Tree Lyrics
I rode into Tucson three hours agoFor supplies and a short friendly game of pokerWhile Smitty put some new shoes onOld Dan before he goes lame.I sat in a game at the Miner's SaloonSoon I had doubled my stakeThe cards run like they'd been dealt by Lady LuckThey were just sealin' my fateA young cowboy lost more than he could affordAnd accused me of dealin' too smartHis draw was too slow and he fell to the floorWith three bullets close to the heartOh, cottonwood tree are you waiting for meWaiting to take me awayI've done no wrong but the town cannot seeAnd so with my life I must pay.A crowd started gatherin' the sheriff came inI handed him over my gunWas then when I found out the boy I had killedWas the town's biggest man's only son.I tried to explain I had shot in defenseIt was the young cowboy or meThe crowd wouldn't listen so they drug me outTo the limb of this cottonwood tree.Majestically standing out here all aloneIt's spring and the valley is greenBut I can't admire a place It don't belong to meIt's all like a bad dream.But old Dan's beneath me with new shows and allAs they place the noose round my neckCowboys I've never laid eyes on beforeAre tyin' my hands to my back.Oh, cottonwood tree are you waiting for meWaiting to take me awayI've done no wrong but the town cannot seeAnd so with my life I must pay.I see hate in the eyes of the town's biggest manAs he pulls a branch from the treeTo whip the backside of my old pony DanSo he'll run out from under me.Insane, he won't listen to my last appealA wild grin has covered his faceAs I tried to reason just how he would feelIf he were up here in my place.There's many a mountain trail I'll never rideGreen valleys I'll never seeA young cowboy died and a man's foolish prideBrought me to this cottonwood tree.My face is turned upward and I cannot breatheThe sky's growing dark overheadThe knot's pulling tight as my body swepts freeA few moments more I'll be dead.Oh, cottonwood tree are you waiting for meWaiting to take me awayI've done no wrong but the town cannot seeAnd so with my life I must pay...
