Me and my uncle went ridin' down
From Colorado, west Texas bound
And we stopped off in Santa Fe,
It bein’ the place about half way
And besides it was the hottest part of the day

We led our ponies into a stall
Went to the bar, boys, bought drinks for all
Two days in the saddle, my body hurt
It being summer, took off my shirt
And I tried to wash off some of that dusty dirt

West Texas cowboys, all over town,
With gold and silver, they’re loaded down,
Just in from roundup, it seemed a shame,
And so my uncle starts a friendly game,
Now it’s hollow jack and winner take the game

From the beginning, uncle starts to win,
Them Texas cowboys, they was mad as sin,
Some say he’s cheatin’, that can’t be,
‘Cause my uncle, he's as honest as me,
And I'm as honest as a Denver gal can be.

One Texas cowboy, he starts to draw,
I grabbed a bottle, slapped him on the jaw,
I shot another, he won’t grow old,
In the confusion, uncle grabbed the gold,
And we hightailed it down to Mexico.

Now God bless cowboys, and God bless gold,
God bless my uncle, and rest his soul,
He taught me well boys, taught me all I know,
Taught me so well, boys, I grabbed that gold
And I left him lyin’ there, I left him lyin’ there
I left him lyin’ there by the side of the road

© 1963 John Phillips