i'll bet you've never heard ole marshall dillon say Miss kitty have you ever thought of running away Settling down, would you marry me If i asked you twice and begged you pretty please She'd have said 'yes' in a new york minute They never tied the knot His heart wasn't in it He just stole a kiss as he rode away He never hung his hat up at kitty's place I should've been a cowboy I should've learned to rope and ride Wearing my six-shooter, riding by pony on a cattle drive Stealing a young girl's heart Just like gene and roy Singing those campfire songs Oh i should've been a cowboy I might of had a side kick with a funny name Running wild through the hills chasing jesse james Ending up on the brink of danger Riding shotgun for the texas rangers Go west young man, haven't you been told California's full of whisky, women and gold Sleeping out all night beneath the desert stars A dream in my eye and a prayer in my heart I should've been a cowboy I should've learned to rope and ride Wearing my six-shooter riding by pony on a cattle drive Stealing a young girl's heart Just like gene and roy Singing those campfire songs Oh i should've been a cowboy