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

And 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

And if I’d never got past Dakota, I’d have never seen the Jersey shore

Or the great Pacific up to Alaska 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

And 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

And 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