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