Dm                C
The cowboy life is a dreary, dreary life
Am                         Dm
  Some say it's free from care
F                            C
Rounding up the cattle from morning till night
        Dm            A         Dm
In the middle of the prairie so bare

[Verse 2]
Dm                   C
Half-past four, that noisy cook will roar
Am                                Dm
  "Hey boys, it's the breaking of day”
F                    C
Slowly we rise with sleepy-feeling eyes
        Dm           A           Dm
As the short summer night passed away

[Verse 3]
    Dm                C
The cowboy life is a dreary, dreary life
Am                           Dm
  From dawn till the setting sun
F                      C
Then his day's work it is not done
             Dm              A          Dm
For there's still his night guard to go on

[Verse 4]
     Dm                         C
The wolves and owls with their terrifying howls
   Am                       Dm
Disturb us in our midnight dream
         F                           C
When we layin' in our slickers on a cold, rainy night
    Dm           A     Dm
Way over on the Pecos stream

[Verse 5]
     Dm               C
The cowboy life is a dreary, dreary life
Am                         Dm
  All out in the midnight rain
F                     C
Punchin' cattle from morning till night
    Dm          A     Dm
Way out on the Texas plains

[Verse 6]
Dm                   C
Spring sets in, our troubles all begin
     Am                       Dm
The weather being fierce and cold
       F                     C
We're almost froze from the water on our clothes
         Dm            A       Dm
And the cattle we can scarcely hold

[Verse 7]
         Dm               C
Now the cowboy life is a mighty dreary life
    Am                   Dm
All out in the sleet and snow
F                  C
Winter time comes, he begins to think
Dm             A           Dm
Where did his summer wages go

[Verse 8]
  Dm                      C
I once loved to roam, but now I stay at home
        Am                Dm
All you punchers take my advice
           F                            C
Sell your bridle and saddle, quit your rowing and travels
    Dm       A            Dm
Tie on to a pretty little wife

[Verse 9]
         Dm                             C
You can talk about your farms and your big city charms
         Am                         Dm
You can talk about your silver and gold
         F                C
But the cowboy life is a dreary, dreary life
             Dm                  A           Dm
When you're driving through the heat and the cold

[Verse 10]
    Dm                C
The cowboy life is a dreary, dreary life
    Am                       Dm
All out in the heat and the cold
           F                           C
While the rich man is sleeping on his velvet couch
Dm               A         Dm
Dreaming of his silver and gold