He got down out of the cattle truck in the Amarillo night
He looked up at the Texas sky and thought of his last ride
He'd trade all his tomorrows for eight seconds one more time
He could have made world champion cowboy back in 1969
He thanked the driver for the ride and he closed the semi-door
He limped across the parking lot to another liquor store
He held on to the bottle as he counted
out his change
And he felt like some old saddled bronc
had been turned out on the range
When the rodeo is over
Where does the cowboy go?
Never thought it'd be his last ride
Till the last time he got thrown
When your heart can't take the losing
And your knees can't take
the blows
When the rodeo is over
Where does the cowboy go?
Where does the cowboy go?
Music
Whiskey on his breath
And the aging breath
In his eye
Hitch a ride on the interstate
And fade into the sunrise
Nassodona, she's a vortex
But she's sweeter than the coast
He smokes cigarettes he can't afford
And whistles to a ghost
His boots belong to memory
And his spurs belong to rust
He'll be picking up his turquoise
And leave the buckles in the dust
When the rodeo is over
Where does the cowboy go?
He never thought it'd be his last ride
Till the last time he got thrown
When your heart can't take the losing
And your knees can't take the blows
When the rodeo is over
Where do the cowboys go?
When the rodeo is over
Where does the cowboy go?
Where does the cowboy go?

Back home
Back Home
Up where the small rows grow bigger
Somewhere on musical row
A cowboy's a takin' his chances
Open a 10-year show.