Marty Robbins - The Cottonwood Tree lyrics

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I rode into Tucson three hours ago<br />

For supplies and a short, friendly game<br />

A poker-wild smitty put some new shoes<br />

On 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 gathrin', the Sheriff came in<br />

I handed him over my gun<br />

Was then that 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 />

Majestic'ly standing out here all alone<br />

It's Spring and the valley is green<br />

But I can't admire a place I don't belong<br />

To me it's all like a bad dream<br />

<br />

But old Dan's beneath me with new shoes and all<br />

As they place the noose 'round my neck<br />

Cowboys I never laid eyes on before<br />

A-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 valley's 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 breath<br />

The sky's growing dark overhead<br />

The knot's pulling tight as my body swings free<br />

A few moments more, I'll be dead<br />

<br />

Oh, cottonwood tree were you put here for me<br />

Put here to take me away<br />

I've done no wrong, but the town cannot see<br />

And, so, with my life I must pay