I rode into Tucson three hours ago

For supplies and a short, friendly game

A poker-wild smitty put some new shoes

On old Dan before he goes lame



I sat in a game at The Miner's Saloon

Soon I had doubled my stake

The cards run like they'd been dealt by lady luck

They were just sealin' my fate



A young cowboy lost more than he could afford

And accused me of dealin' too smart

His draw was too slow and he fell to the floor

With three bullets close to the heart



Oh, cottonwood tree are you waiting for me

Waiting to take me away

I've done no wrong, but the town cannot see

And, so, with my life I must pay



A crowd started gathrin', the Sheriff came in

I handed him over my gun

Was then that I found out the boy I had killed

Was the town's biggest man's only son



I tried to explain I had shot in defense

It was the young cowboy or me

The crowd wouldn't listen, so they drug me out

To the limb of this cottonwood tree



Majestic'ly standing out here all alone

It's Spring and the valley is green

But I can't admire a place I don't belong

To me it's all like a bad dream



But old Dan's beneath me with new shoes and all

As they place the noose 'round my neck

Cowboys I never laid eyes on before

A-tyin' my hands to my back



Oh, cottonwood tree are you waiting for me

Waiting to take me away

I've done no wrong, but the town cannot see

And, so, with my life I must pay



I see hate in the eyes of the town's biggest man

As he pulls a branch from the tree

To whip the backside of my old pony, Dan

So he'll run out from under me



Insane, he won't listen to my last appeal

A wild grin has covered his face

As I tried to reason just how he would feel

If he were up here in my place



There's many a mountain trail I'll never ride

Green valley's I'll never see

A young cowboy died, and a man's foolish pride

Brought me to this cottonwood tree



My face is turned upward and I cannot breath

The sky's growing dark overhead

The knot's pulling tight as my body swings free

A few moments more, I'll be dead



Oh, cottonwood tree were you put here for me

Put here to take me away

I've done no wrong, but the town cannot see

And, so, with my life I must pay