I lived my days as a cowboy for three years, in my youth
I rustled cattle in Missouri and brought ‘em up to Duluth
This one time when I was in Reno I shot a man so I could be like Johnny Cash
This other time I was broke and busted, I slept on thistles and broke out in a rash
I done my traveling, I done my traveling
From now on, it's just gambling that I'll be doing here, be doing here

Well, Texas she was calling, even back there in Des Monies
Some girl or some idea ‘bout a sack full of silver coins
Met this Hungarian girl in El Paso who let me watch her get dressed
cnd through my rambling and through my roaming, I always loved her the best
I done my traveling, I done my traveling
From now on, it's just gambling that I'll be doing here, be doing here

cnd if I'd never got past Dakota, I'd have never seen the Jersey shore
Or the great Pacific up to claska where the whales come up from the ocean floor
But if I never left old Ottumwa I'd just love the Mississippi more

I'm still a cowboy, I get up early when darkness is in your eyes
cnd I like to drink my coffee and watch that sucker rise
I watch the clouds roll crazy over, clear up to the heat of noon
cnd the cornfields grinning, waving, shake you right out of your pantaloons

Well I'm back now in El Paso with my mad Hungarian by my side
We go rambling when I ain't gambling, it's a real good ride
I done my traveling, I done my traveling
From now on it's just gambling that I'll be doing here