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I rode into Tucson three hours ago |
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For supplies and a short, friendly game |
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A poker-wild Smitty put some new shoes |
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On old Dan before he goes lame |
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I sat in a game at The Miner's Saloon |
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Soon I had doubled my stake |
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The cards run like they'd been dealt by lady luck |
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They were just sealin' my fate |
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A young cowboy lost more than he could afford |
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And accused me of dealin' too smart |
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His draw was too slow and he fell to the floor |
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With three bullets close to the heart |
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Oh, cottonwood tree are you waiting for me |
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Waiting to take me away |
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I've done no wrong, but the town cannot see |
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And, so, with my life I must pay |
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A crowd started gathrin', the Sheriff came in |
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I handed him over my gun |
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Was then that I found out the boy I had killed |
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Was the town's biggest man's only son |
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I tried to explain I had shot in defense |
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It was the young cowboy or me |
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The crowd wouldn't listen, so they drug me out |
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To the limb of this cottonwood tree |
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Majestic'ly standing out here all alone |
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It's Spring and the valley is green |
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But I can't admire a place I don't belong |
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To me it's all like a bad dream |
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But old Dan's beneath me with new shoes and all |
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As they place the noose 'round my neck |
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Cowboys I never laid eyes on before |
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A-tyin' my hands to my back |
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Oh, cottonwood tree are you waiting for me |
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Waiting to take me away |
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I've done no wrong but the town cannot see |
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And, so, with my life I must pay |
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I see hate in the eyes of the town's biggest man |
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As he pulls a branch from the tree |
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To whip the backside of my old pony, Dan |
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So, he'll run out from under me |
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Insane, he won't listen to my last appeal |
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A wild grin has covered his face |
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As I tried to reason just how he would feel |
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If he were up here in my place |
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There's many a mountain trail I'll never ride |
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Green valley's I'll never see |
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A young cowboy died, and a man's foolish pride |
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Brought me to this cottonwood tree |
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My face is turned upward and I cannot breath |
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The sky's growing dark overhead |
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The knot's pulling tight as my body swings free |
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A few moments more, I'll be dead |
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Oh, cottonwood tree were you put here for me |
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Put here to take me away |
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I've done no wrong, but the town cannot see |
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And, so, with my life I must pay |