Riding the range, and roping the steers,
With chaps on the legs and kegs full of beer.
Crawly stuff on the blankets, fire growing low,
Morning's almost breakin', mountains are aglow.
Been ridden up from Abilene, headed for Cheyanne,
The path is long and lonely on my way to see Diane.

I was hopin' we would marry, that pretty girl and me,
Settle on the prairie, and start a family.
I'd been savin' for a year now, putting all my cash away,
Skippin' all the card games, looking forward to that day.
And then a week from Cheyanne, along the dusty trail,
A note for me arrived, from a cowpoke bringin' mail.

I opened up the letter, and read it tenderly,
Then tears began to stain the dust as the words sank into me.
"My darling, I hope you're doing well, I assume you're getting near,
But I really need to tell you, that the plans have changed my dear.
You've been gone so long, I couldn't wait, and others were so close,
So I've taken me a new man, and we've started moving north."

The clouds began to darken, and a breeze blew in a chill,
My feelings ranged from saddness, to an awful urge to kill.
I cried because I'd loved her, and wanted us to thrive,
And now she's up and left me, for some other guy.
My story is almost over now, there's nothing more to do,
I'll take my trusty forty-four, for me, my life is through.