Cottonwood Tree lyrics

I rode into Tucson three hours ago

For supplies and a short friendly game

Of poker while Smitty put some new shoes

On Old Dan before he goes lame.

I sat in a game at the Miner's Saloon

Soon I had doubled my stake

The cards run like they'd been dealt by Lady Luck

They were just sealin' my fate

A young cowboy lost more than he could afford

And accused me of dealin' too smart

His draw was too slow and he fell to the floor

With three bullets close to the heart

Oh, cottonwood tree are you waiting for me,

Waiting to take me away?

I've done no wrong but the town cannot see

And so with my life I must pay.

A crowd started gatherin', the sheriff came in

I handed him over my gun

Was then when I found out the boy I had killed

Was the town's biggest man's only son.

I tried to explain I had shot in defense

It was the young cowboy or me

The crowd wouldn't listen so they drug me out

To the limb of this cottonwood tree.

Majestically standing out here all alone

It's spring and the valley is green

But I can't admire a place I don't belong,

To me it's all like a bad dream.

But old Dan's beneath me with new shoes and all

As they place the noose round my neck

Cowboys I've never laid eyes on before

Are tyin' my hands to my back.

Oh, cottonwood tree are you waiting for me,

Waiting to take me away?

I've done no wrong but the town cannot see

And so with my life I must pay.

I see hate in the eyes of the town's biggest man

As he pulls a branch from the tree

To whip the backside of my old pony Dan

So he'll run out from under me.

Insane, he won't listen to my last appeal

A wild grin has covered his face

As I tried to reason just how he would feel

If he were up here in my place.

There's many a mountain trail I'll never ride

Green valleys I'll never see

A young cowboy died and a man's foolish pride

Brought me to this cottonwood tree.

My face is turned upward and I cannot breathe

The sky's growing dark overhead

The knot's pulling tight as my body sweeps free

A few moments more I'll be dead.

Oh, cottonwood tree were you put here for me,

Put here to take me away?

I've done no wrong but the town cannot see

And so with my life I must pay