(Verse)
Down at the old El Western Motel
There's a sturdy old cowboy in room number 12
Since the ranches closed down
It's all shot to hell
Forced to move into town
El Western Motel
(Verse)
40 hard years he rode for the brand
Ridin and ropin, a top heir hand
Hit off with a handshake from a smug lonely man
Thanks for 40 hard years that you rode for the brand
(Verse)
They gave him a week to pack up and go
In 22 minutes he was off down the road
Everything that he owned in an old flatbed Ford
40 years gathers in a 2-54
(Chorus)
And he once reeked of whiskey and horse flesh and danger
Now he's a stranger in this little town
Tonight in his dreams he'll pack up and ride
Through the summer of life upon the divide
(Verse)
Just down the road there's a silver spur bar
Stretch of the legs, not very far
Every night at the very same barstool he sits
Keeps to himself, he smiles and he tips
(Verse)
Now and then in this tavern there's some drunken fool
Who feels free to join him pulls up the stool
His eyes, they glance over
He ain't drunk, he's just bored
There's no joker story that he ain't heard before
(Chorus)
And he once reeked of whiskey and horse flesh and danger
Now he's a stranger in this little town
Tonight in his dreams he'll pack up and ride
Through the summer of life upon the divide
(Verse)
Cowboy at Christmas brings a rodeo crowd
They're young and they're pretty and they're pretty damn loud
His eyes play a trick, so quick he's not sure
A young barrel racer that reminds him of her
(Verse)
In the side him's the young man that's yearning the lance
Buy her a drink and ask her to dance
He'll be danged if he'll play the old fool cliche'
Their eyes almost meet and his turn away
(Chorus)
And he once reeked of whiskey and horse flesh and danger
Now he's a stranger in this little town
Tonight in his dreams he'll pack up and ride
Through the summer of life upon the divide
(Verse)
The maid is knockin with clean towels and fresh sheets
The guy down in 12 ain't been seen in a week
The desk clerk, he comes and he uses his key
Finds him dead on the bed, John Wayne on TV
(Verse)
The good will they came to sort through his stuff
A buckle, a saddle and a Winchester pump
Picture of a girl once with the car
Take back together and two purple hearts
(Verse)
Down at the spur came the word that he passed
And his bar room buddies all hoisted a glass
In voice raised a toast with the deepest regret
Now he's only remembered by those triumphal bids
(Chorus)
And he once reeked of whiskey and horse flesh and danger
And he died a stranger in this little town
Tonight in his dreams he'll pack up and ride
Through the summer of life upon the divide
Through the summer of life upon the divide
Down at the old El Western Motel
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