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'd just have to go downtown, throw his weight around before starting over

"Say did you hear I've got a band?
Some guys I know from LA
We'll own the 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 hands can't make it on the run, under the gun
Not for the younger
Oh Jack Daniels, 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 you loved in vain
My comrades lost in battle
The music wars are done from London to Seattle
We all pay to play and all our yesterdays are starting over

Oh Desperado, why don't you spend your life in Colorado?
Oh Restless Shadow, out on 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

Ready to die
Now he's ready to die