(Verse 1) 
 
G5                            F5  C5    
Beggin' your pardon there stranger 
                                  G5 
You look like you're new to this town 
                                F5    C5 
We're a long way away from the beach here 
                               G5 
You won't see many gringos around 
                          F5  C5 
Well I come from West Colorado 
                                      G5 
And I've wandered this world far and wide 
                                   F5 C5 
I've lived for some years in the shadows 
                               G5 
And my eyes are unused to this light 
                                  F5 C5 
If you buy me a strong drink of whiskey 
                               G5 
I will tell you the tale of my life 
                                   F5  C5                 
It's long and it's sad but it fits me 
                                G5 
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