BRONCO BILL S LAMENT
Words & Music by Don McLean
I COULDA BEEN MOST ANYTHING I PUT MY MIND TO BE,
BUT A COWBOY S LIFE WAS THE ONLY LIFE FOR ME.
IT S A STRONG MAN S OCCUPATION RIDIN HERD AND LIVIN FREE,
BUT STRONG MEN OFTEN FAIL
WHERE SHREWD MEN CAN PREVAIL,
I M AN OLD MAN NOW WITH NOTHIN LEFT TO SAY,
BUT OH GOD HOW I WORKED MY YOUTH AWAY.
WELL YOU MAY NOT RECOGNIZE MY FACE, I USED TO BE A STAR,
A COWBOY HERO KNOWN BOTH NEAR AND FAR.
I PERCHED UPON A SILVER MOUNT AND SANG WITH MY GUITAR,
BUT THE STUDIO OF COURSE, OWNED MY SADDLE AND MY HORSE,
BUT THAT SIX-GUN ON THE WALL BELONGS TO ME,
OH GOD I CAN T LIVE A MEMORY.
YOU KNOW I D LIKE TO PUT MY FINGER ON THAT TRIGGER ONCE AGAIN,
AND POINT THAT GUN AT ALL THE PRIDEFUL MEN.
ALL THE VOYEURS AND THE LAWYERS WHO CAN PULL A FOUNTAIN PEN,
AND PUT YOU WHERE THEY CHOOSE,
WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY USE,
AND ENSLAVE YOU TILL YOU WORK YOUR YOUTH AWAY,
OH GOD HOW I WORKED MY YOUTH AWAY.
WHOOPEE TY YI OH WHOOPEE TY YI AY,
ONE MAN S WORK IS ANOTHER MAN S PLAY
OH GOD HOW I WORKED MY YOUTH AWAY.
YOU SEE I ALWAYS LIKED THE NOTION OF A COWBOY FIGHTING CRIME,
THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN IN MY PRIME,
I COULD BEAT THOSE DESPERADOS BUT THERE S NO SENSE FIGHTIN TIME,
BUT THE SINGIN WAS A BALL
CAUSE I M NOT MUSICAL AT ALL,
I MOVED MY LIPS TO SOMEONE ELSE S VOICE.
Repeat verse 1