I walked behind the chute, strapped my spurs to my boots
At that big Rodeo in Cheyenne
Feelin' tired and sore for a ride the day before
And a thousand other rides since I began
As I climbed up the gate I heard that young cowboy sayin'
Well, that ole man ain't gonna ride, and I had to smile
I said son it ain't age that makes me look this way
It ain't the years boy it's the miles
It ain't the years that I've known that have taken their toll
Cause they've been few
If you took all the mashin's the draggin's and the crashin's
You'd probably look the same way I do
It's the million miles of road and gettin' snatched around and throwed
That finally put the cramp in my style it ain't the years boy it's the miles

Went on and made my ride only scored a sixty-five
But you know what really made my day complete
Was when I looked up just in time to see that young cowboy goin' flyin'
And land in a pile at my feet
And as the first aid came to haul him away I said son you'll be
Alright in a little while
He's on his way to findin' out what it's all about
It ain't the years boy it's the miles
It ain't the years that I've known that've taken their toll
Cause they've been few
If you took all the mashin's
It ain't age that makes me look this way it ain't the years boy it's the miles