I rode into Tucson three hours ago for supplies and a short friendly game
Of poker while Smitty put some new shoes on old Dan before he goes lame
I sat in a game at the Miner's Saloon soon I had doubled my stake
The cards run like they'd been dealt by Lady Luck they were just sealin' my fate
A young cowboy lost more than he could afford and accused me of dealin' too smart
His draw was too slow and he fell to the floor with three bullets close to the heart
Oh cottonwood tree are you waiting for me waiting to take me away
I've done no wrong but the town cannot see and so with my life I must pay

A crowd started gatherin' the sheriff came in I handed him over my gun
Was then when I found out the boy I had killed
Was the town's biggest man's only son
I tried to explain I had shot in defense it was the young cowboy or me
The crowd wouldn't listen so they drug me out to the limb of this cottonwood tree
Majestically standing out here all alone it's spring and the valley is green
But I can't admire a place I don't belong to me it's all like a bad dream
But old Dan's beneath me with new shows and all
As they place the noose round my neck
Cowboys I've never laid eyes on before are tyin' my hands to my back
Oh cottonwood tree

I see hate in the eyes of the town's biggest man as he pulls a branch from the tree
To whip the backside of my old pony Dan so he'll run out from under me
Insane he won't listen to my last appeal a wild grin has covered his face
As I tried to reason just how he would feel if he were up here in my place
There's many a mountain trail I'll never ride green valleys I'll never see
A young cowboy died and a man's foolish pride brought me to this cottonwood tree
My face is turned upward and I cannot breathe the sky's growing dark overhead
The knot's pulling tight as my body swepts free a few moments more I'll be dead
Oh cottonwood tree