(Verse 1) 
 
G                            F  C    
Beggin' your pardon there stranger 
                                  G 
You look like you're new to this town 
                                F    C 
We're a long way away from the beach here 
                               G 
You won't see many gringos around 
                          F  C 
Well I come from West Colorado 
                                      G 
And I've wandered this world far and wide 
                                   F C 
I've lived for some years in the shadows 
                               G 
And my eyes are unused to this light 
                                  F C 
If you buy me a strong drink of whiskey 
                               G 
I will tell you the tale of my life 
                                   F  C                 
It's long and it's sad but it fits me 
                                G 
And it may bring a tear to your eye 
 
(Verse 2) 
 
All the men of my family were solidiers 
The hard fightin' straight talkin' kind 
When my turn came all that was over 
But I'd already made up my mind 
I was there when we blew though Grenada 
And I still have to ask myself why 
Then we took down that fool Noriega 
That's where I caught the good colonel's eye 
Well he asked me if I loved my country 
And before I had time to reply 
He regaled me with tales of past glories 
I believed every one of his lies 
 
(Verse 3) 
 
So I left my old life behind me 
Turned my back on my family and friends 
And I did everything that they asked me 
And I lost some sleep now and again 
And I lived like a thief and assassin 
I smuggled their poisons sometimes 
Until I asked the wrong question in passin? 
 
(Verse 4) 
 
And the colonel himself dropped the dime 
So if you're ever in west Colorado 
Tell the folks in Durango goodbye 
There's a price on my head and I can't go 
So I'll just wait around here 'til I die