Cottonwood Tree chords by Marty Robbins

• Capo on 1st

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Key: C

Difficulty: Intermediate

Verse 1:
C            G7
I rode into Tucson three hours ago
                 C
For supplies and a short friendly game
           G7
Of poker while Smitty put some new shoes
             C
On old Dan before he goes lame

Verse 2:
           G7
I sat in a game at the Miner's Saloon
           C
Soon I had doubled my stake
                   G7
The cards run like they'd been dealt by Lady Luck
             C
They were just sealing my fate


Verse 3:
 F              C
A young cowboy lost more than he could afford
   F            C
And accused me of dealing too smart
  F            C
His draw was too slow and he fell to the floor
   G7             C
With three bullets close to the heart


Chorus:
  F          Em
Oh cottonwood tree are you waiting for me
Dm         C
Waiting to take me away
F             C
I've done no wrong but the town cannot see
  G7           C
And so with my life I must pay


Verse 4:
               G7
A crowd started gathering the sheriff came in
           C
I handed him over my gun
               G7
Was then when I found out the boy I had killed
                 C
Was the town's biggest man's only son


Verse 5:
           G7
I tried to explain I had shot in defense
              C
It was the young cowboy or me
               G7
The crowd wouldn't listen so they drug me out
                C
To the limb of this cottonwood tree


Verse 6:
             G7
Majestically standing out here all alone
               C
It's spring and the valley is green
              G7
But I can't admire a place I don't belong
             C
To me it's all like a bad dream


Verse 7:
  F             C
But old Dan's beneath me with new shoes and all
  F               C
As they place the noose round my neck
F            C
Cowboys I've never laid eyes on before
  G7          C
Are tying my hands to my back


Chorus:
  F          Em
Oh cottonwood tree are you waiting for me
Dm         C
Waiting to take me away
F             C
I've done no wrong but the town cannot see
  G7           C
And so with my life I must pay


Verse 8:
               G7
I see hate in the eyes of the town's biggest man
               C
As he pulls a branch from the tree
              G7
To whip the backside of my old pony Dan
              C
So he'll run out from under me


Verse 9:
             G7
Insane he won't listen to my last appeal
              C
A wild grin has covered his face
             G7
As I tried to reason just how he would feel
             C
If he were up here in my place


Verse 10:
               G7
There's many a mountain trail I'll never ride
             C
Green valleys I'll never see
             G7
A young cowboy died and a man's foolish pride
               C
Brought me to this cottonwood tree


Verse 11:
  F             C
My face is turned upward and I cannot breathe
  F           C
The sky's growing dark overhead
  F             C
The knot's pulling tight as my body sweeps free
 G7            C
A few moments more I'll be dead


Chorus:
 F          Em
Oh cottonwood tree are you waiting for me
Dm         C
Waiting to take me away
F             C
I've done no wrong but the town cannot see
  G7           C
And so with my life I must pay