Bronco Bill's Lament
Composer(s): Don McLean
Performer(s): Don McLean



I coulda been most anything I put my mind to be
But a cowboy's life was the only life for me
It's a strong man's occupation ridin' herd and livin' free
But strong men often fail
Where shrewd men can prevail
I'm an old man now with nothin' left to say
But oh god how I worked my youth away

Well you may not recognise my face, I used to be a star
A cowboy hero known both near and far
I perched upon a silver mount and sang with my guitar
But the studio of course
owned my saddle and my horse
But that six-gun on the wall belongs to me
Oh god I can't live a memory

You know I'd like to put my finger on that trigger once again
And point that gun at all the prideful men
All the voyeurs and the lawyers who can pull a fountain pen
And put you where they choose
With the language that they use
And enslave you till you work your youth away
Oh god how I worked my youth away

Whoopee ty yioh
Whoopee ty yi ay
One man's work is another man's play
Oh god how I worked my youth away

You see I always liked the notion of a cowboy fighting crime
This photograph was taken in my prime
I could beat those desperados but there's no sense fightin' time
But the singin' was a ball
'Cause I'm not musical at all
I moved my lips to someone else's voice

I coulda been most anything I put my mind to be
But a cowboy's life was the only life for me
It's a strong man's occupation ridin' herd and livin' free
But strong men often fail
Where shrewd men can prevail
I'm an old man now with nothin' left to say
But oh god how I worked my youth away