Cottonwood Tree chords by Marty Robbins

Chords with lyrics

• Capo on 1st

Tuning: Standard (E MajorE A augmentedA D MajorD G+G BB E MajorE)

Key: C majorC

Difficulty: Intermediate

Verse 1:
C majorC            G7G7
I rode into Tucson three hours ago
                 C majorC
For supplies and a short friendly game
           G7G7
Of poker while Smitty put some new shoes
             C majorC
On old Dan before he goes lame

Verse 2:
           G7G7
I sat in a game at the Miner's Saloon
           C majorC
Soon I had doubled my stake
                   G7G7
The cards run like they'd been dealt by Lady Luck
             C majorC
They were just sealing my fate


Verse 3:
 FF              C majorC
A augmentedA young cowboy lost more than he could afford
   FF            C majorC
And accused me of dealing too smart
  FF            C majorC
His draw was too slow and he fell to the floor
   G7G7             C majorC
With three bullets close to the heart


Chorus:
  FF          E minorEm
Oh cottonwood tree are you waiting for me
DmDm         C majorC
Waiting to take me away
FF             C majorC
I've done no wrong but the town cannot see
  G7G7           C majorC
And so with my life I must pay


Verse 4:
               G7G7
A augmentedA crowd started gathering the sheriff came in
           C majorC
I handed him over my gun
               G7G7
Was then when I found out the boy I had killed
                 C majorC
Was the town's biggest man's only son

Verse 5:
           G7G7
I tried to explain I had shot in defense
              C majorC
It was the young cowboy or me
               G7G7
The crowd wouldn't listen so they drug me out
                C majorC
To the limb of this cottonwood tree


Verse 6:
             G7G7
Majestically standing out here all alone
               C majorC
It's spring and the valley is green
              G7G7
But I can't admire a place I don't belong
             C majorC
To me it's all like a bad dream


Verse 7:
  FF             C majorC
But old Dan's beneath me with new shoes and all
  FF               C majorC
As they place the noose round my neck
FF            C majorC
Cowboys I've never laid eyes on before
  G7G7          C majorC
Are tying my hands to my back


Chorus:
  FF          E minorEm
Oh cottonwood tree are you waiting for me
DmDm         C majorC
Waiting to take me away
FF             C majorC
I've done no wrong but the town cannot see
  G7G7           C majorC
And so with my life I must pay


Verse 8:
               G7G7
I see hate in the eyes of the town's biggest man
               C majorC
As he pulls a branch from the tree
              G7G7
To whip the backside of my old pony Dan
              C majorC
So he'll run out from under me


Verse 9:
             G7G7
Insane he won't listen to my last appeal
              C majorC
A augmentedA wild grin has covered his face
             G7G7
As I tried to reason just how he would feel
             C majorC
If he were up here in my place


Verse 10:
               G7G7
There's many a mountain trail I'll never ride
             C majorC
Green valleys I'll never see
             G7G7
A augmentedA young cowboy died and a man's foolish pride
               C majorC
Brought me to this cottonwood tree


Verse 11:
  FF             C majorC
My face is turned upward and I cannot breathe
  FF           C majorC
The sky's growing dark overhead
  FF             C majorC
The knot's pulling tight as my body sweeps free
 G7G7            C majorC
A augmentedA few moments more I'll be dead


Chorus:
 FF          E minorEm
Oh cottonwood tree are you waiting for me
DmDm         C majorC
Waiting to take me away
FF             C majorC
I've done no wrong but the town cannot see
  G7G7           C majorC
And so with my life I must pay