I still can picture him
His hands in his back pockets
He wasn't much for words
But when the wise kids made a racket

He just had to go downtown
Throw his weight around for starting over
"Say did you hear I've got a band?"
Some guys I know from LA

Put on Rio Grande
I'll pay you back next Friday
You know it sure ain't big
Just some cats I dig

They said; "They'd do the gig"
Oh Desperado
Why don't you spend your life in Colorado?
Oh restless shadow

Out in the blue hills
You're feeling hollow
Oh El Diablo
Why did you spend your life in California?

I should have warned ya'
No place to go now but falling over
Some guys can't make it on the run
Under the gun

Not for the younger
Oh Jack Daniel's I feel your hunger
I know you did your best
But you thought that you did not

I wish that I had known
Before I heard the last shot
You know it's not a sin
That little badge of tin

Just a momento
So sad your love remained
My comrades lost in battle
The music was a din from London to Seattle

We all made you play and all our yesterdays
Are starting over
Oh Desperado
Why don't you spend your life in Colorado?

Oh restless shadow
Out in the blue hills
You're feeling hollow
Oh, El Diablo

Why did you spend your life in California?
I should have warned ya'
No place to go now but falling over