Em
Me and my uncle went a ridin' down 
          G                B7
From Colorado, west Texas bound
           Em
We stopped over in Santa Fe, 
          G               B7
Part it being about half way
   Em               B                   Em
Besides it was the hottest part of the day

Em
We led our ponies into the stall,
             G                        B7
Went to a bar boys, bought drinks for all
                 Em
Two days in the saddle, my body hurt. 
          G                    B7
It being Summer, took off my shirt
      Em               B                  Em
And tried to wash off some of that dusty dirt.

Em
West Texas cowboys, all over town,
               G                      B7
With gold and silver, they're loaded down.
              Em
Just in from roundup, you know it seemed a shame
          G                         B7
And so my uncle, starts a friendly game.
 Em              B              Em
Hollow Jack the winner takes a gain.

Em
From the beginning my uncle started to win
          G                            B7
Them Texas cowboys, they was as mad as sin
                 Em
Some said he's cheating.  Aw, but that can't be!
           G                         B7
Because my uncle, he's as honest as me.
    Em                        B              Em
And I'm about as honest as a Denver man can be.

Em
One of them cowboys, you know he started to draw.
               G                         B7
I grabbed the bottle, slapped him on the jaw
                Em
I had to shoot another, now he won't grow old
           G                            B7
In the confusion, my uncle grabbed the gold,
 Em               B          Em                      B    Em
We hightailed it down to Mexico, Mexico, way down to Mexico

Em
God bless cowboys, God bless gold.
             G                    B7
God bless my uncle, God rest his soul.
              Em
He taught me well, boys, taught me all I know.
              G                       B7
Taught me so well that I grabbed the gold
   Em              B                       Em
Left him lying there by the side of the road