Me and my uncle went a'riden down

from Colorado West Texas bound

We stopped over in Santa fe

the part of being about half way.

Besides it was the hottest part of the day.



We led our ponies into a stall.

Went to a bar, boys.

Bought drinks for all.

Two days in the saddle, my body hurt,

and being summer, took off my shirt,

and tried to wash off some of that dusty dirt.



West Texas cowboys, all over town,

with gold and silver, their loaded down.

Just in for round up

You know it seemed a shame

And so my uncle starts a friendly game

Hollow jack, the winner takes the game.



But from the beginning my uncle started to win.

Them Texas cowboys they was mad as sin.

Some said he's cheatin'

Ah, but that can't be, because my uncle, well, he's as honest as me.

I'm about as honest as a Denver man can be.



One of them cowboys, you know he started to draw.

I grabbed a bottle, slapped him on the jaw.

I had to shoot another now he won't grow old

In the confusion my uncle grabbed the gold.

We hightailed it down to Mexico,

Mexico, went down to Mexico.



God bless cowboys

God bless gold

God bless my uncle, God rest his soul

He taught me well, boys

He taught me all I know

Taught me so that I grabbed the gold

left him lying there by the side of the road.