Oh the times are tough and living lean
Heart got hard and mind got mean
Slept in the saddle for your pay
Dust in your teeth until you're spitting black
Got the path of the split-toe track
Cattle always seem to know the way

[Chorus]
They were cowboy killers every single one
Broncs, bottle, barrel the gun
Devil had dibs on the Missouri river western shore
They were cowboy killers every other day
Put a fire in the sorrel, roan, thе bay
Curse his name, but you always come back for morе

Well you sweat in the spring and you freeze in the fall
Serenade them by the coyote call
Four black hoove keepin' in steady time
Well you drift away to another place
Late-night you see her face
Sing yourself a song for the love that you left behind

[Chorus]
They were cowboy killers every single one
Broncs, bottle, barrel the gun
Devil had dibs on the Missouri river western shore
It was cowboy killers every other day
Put a fire in the sorrel, roan, the bay
Curse the Devil's name, but you always come back for more

Blame the loneliness of your chosen profession
Broken heart just a burning lesson
Bet you didn't hear you clicking as you rode away
All these things in motion will put you down
Put the shovel in the coal-black ground
Always intended on diggin' yourself a grave

All these cowboy killers
These cowboy killers
Well the cowboys
Always beat them to the chase