Marty Robbins – Cottonwood Tree (Guitar)

C                        G7
I rode into Tucson three hours ago

                                  C
For supplies and a short friendly game

                      G7
Of poker while Smitty put some new shoes

                          C
On old Dan before he goes lame

                     G7
I sat in a game at the Miner's Saloon

                      C
Soon I had doubled my stake

                                     G7
The cards run like they'd been dealt by Lady Luck

                          C
They were just sealing my fate

  F                           C
A young cowboy lost more than he could afford

      F                       C
And accused me of dealing too smart

    F                        C
His draw was too slow and he fell to the floor

     G7                         C
With three bullets close to the heart

   F                   Em
Oh cottonwood tree are you waiting for me

Dm                 C
Waiting to take me away

F                          C
I've done no wrong but the town cannot see

    G7                     C
And so with my life I must pay

                              G7
A crowd started gathering the sheriff came in

                     C
I handed him over my gun

                              G7
Was then when I found out the boy I had killed

                                  C
Was the town's biggest man's only son

                     G7
I tried to explain I had shot in defense

                           C
It was the young cowboy or me

                             G7
The crowd wouldn't listen so they drug me out

                               C
To the limb of this cottonwood tree

                          G7
Majestically standing out here all alone

                              C
It's spring and the valley is green

                           G7
But I can't admire a place I don't belong

                          C
To me it's all like a bad dream

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

   F                             C
As they place the noose round my neck

F                       C
Cowboys I've never laid eyes on before

    G7                   C
Are tying my hands to my back

   F                   Em
Oh cottonwood tree are you waiting for me

Dm                 C
Waiting to take me away

F                          C
I've done no wrong but the town cannot see

    G7                     C
And so with my life I must pay

                              G7
I see hate in the eyes of the town's biggest man

                              C
As he pulls a branch from the tree

                           G7
To whip the backside of my old pony Dan

                            C
So he'll run out from under me

                          G7
Insane he won't listen to my last appeal

                            C
A wild grin has covered his face

                          G7
As I tried to reason just how he would feel

                         C
If he were up here in my place

                              G7
There's many a mountain trail I'll never ride

                         C
Green valleys I'll never see

                          G7
A young cowboy died and a man's foolish pride

                              C
Brought me to this cottonwood tree

   F                         C
My face is turned upward and I cannot breathe

    F                      C
The sky's growing dark overhead

    F                          C
The knot's pulling tight as my body sweeps free

  G7                       C
A few moments more I'll be dead

  F                         Em
Oh cottonwood tree were you put here for me

Dm                 C
Put here to take me away

F                          C
I've done no wrong but the town cannot see

    G7                     C
And so with my life I must pay