Verse 1:
    Em (022000@1)                     DNow (xx0232@1)he don't expect her to stay true to him
    Em (022000@1)                     Dand (xx0232@1)she never says that she will
     Em (022000@1)                   Dbut (xx0232@1)he's got a first love that just might kill him
     Em (022000@1)                           Dand (xx0232@1)she knows he's hooked on the thrill
      G (320003@1)                        DSo (xx0232@1)she'll wait and worry then she'll wait some more
          G (320003@1)                      Dfor (xx0232@1)the fever that drives him to just run its course
      Bm (x24432@1)                       D (xx0232@1)                     Gshe (320003@1)talks to that picture they took their last night together

Chorus:
           D (xx0232@1)        A (x02220@1)      G (320003@1)           D (xx0232@1)        A (x02220@1)     EmSays (022000@1)you can't be a cowboy forever, no you can't be a cowboy forever.

Verse 2:
    Em (022000@1)                     D (xx0232@1)                          Em (022000@1)   
Sometimes he calls her he swears that the ground hurts, more than it did 
    Dyesterday. (xx0232@1)     Em (022000@1)                         D (xx0232@1)                       Em (022000@1)  
But she knows his voice, and he still sounds determined, to do whatever it 
  Dtakes. (xx0232@1)     G (320003@1)                         D (xx0232@1)                           GSo (320003@1)she'll wait and worry then she'll wait some more, for the fever that 
                Ddrives (xx0232@1)him to just run its course
       Bm (x24432@1)                        D (xx0232@1)                     Gthe (320003@1)whiskey he drinks said some things last spring that upset her.

Chorus:
         D (xx0232@1)         A (x02220@1)     G (320003@1)           D (xx0232@1)         A (x02220@1)    EmBut (022000@1)he can't be a cowboy forever, no you can't be a cowboy forever.

Instrumental:

Verse 3:
      Em (022000@1)                           DThen (xx0232@1)one night he shows up, and he says what's for dinner
      Em (022000@1)                    Dwith (xx0232@1)that cocky grin on his face.
     Em (022000@1)                        Dthe (xx0232@1)way that she smiled and the way that she held him
  Em (022000@1)                   Dtold (xx0232@1)him he wasn't too late.
    Bm (x24432@1)                     D (xx0232@1)                          GAs (320003@1)she closed her eyes, and he slipped that ring on her finger.

Chorus:
           D (xx0232@1)         A (x02220@1)    GSaid (320003@1)you can't be a cowboy forever,
         D (xx0232@1)         A (x02220@1)    GNo (320003@1)you can't be a cowboy forever,
         D (xx0232@1)         A (x02220@1)    EmNo (022000@1)you can't be a cowboy forever.