Lyr Req: Cottonwood Tree (from Marty Robbins)

Subject: Cottonwood Tree
From: Duster Jim
Date: 11 Jan 97 - 11:32 PM

A friend of mine has asked me if I could find the words to Cottonwood Tree, I have made an unsucessful search, can you help me out?

Subject: Lyr Add: COTTONWOOD TREE (from Marty Robbins)
From:
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 02:12 AM

The Cottonwood Tree
MARTY ROBBINS

I rode into Tucson three hours ago
For supplies and a short, friendly game.
A poker-wild smitty put some new shoes
On old Dan before he goes lame.

I sat in a game at The Miner's Saloon.
Soon I had doubled my stake.
The cards run like they'd been dealt by Lady Luck.
They were just sealin' my fate.

A young cowboy lost more than he could afford
And accused me of dealin' too smart.
His draw was too slow and he fell to the floor
With three bullets close to the heart.

Oh, cottonwood tree, are you waiting for me,
Waiting to take me away?
I've done no wrong, but the town cannot see,
And, so, with my life I must pay.

A crowd started gath'rin'. The sheriff came in.
I handed him over my gun.
Was then that I found out the boy I had killed
Was the town's biggest man's only son.

I tried to explain I had shot in defense.
It was the young cowboy or me.
The crowd wouldn't listen, so they drug me out
To the limb of this cottonwood tree.

Majestic'ly standing out here all alone,
It's spring and the valley is green,
But I can't admire a place I don't belong.
To me it's all like a bad dream.

But old Dan's beneath me with new shoes and all
As they place the noose 'round my neck.
Cowboys I never laid eyes on before
A-tyin' my hands to my back.

Oh, cottonwood tree, are you waiting for me,
Waiting to take me away?
I've done no wrong, but the town cannot see,
And, so, with my life I must pay.

I see hate in the eyes of the town's biggest man
As he pulls a branch from the tree
To whip the backside of my old pony, Dan,
So he'll run out from under me.

Insane, he won't listen to my last appeal.
A wild grin has covered his face
As I tried to reason just how he would feel
If he were up here in my place.

There's many a mountain trail I'll never ride,
Green valleys I'll never see.
A young cowboy died, and a man's foolish pride
Brought me to this cottonwood tree.

My face is turned upward and I cannot breathe.
The sky's growing dark overhead.
The knot's pulling tight as my body swings free.
A few moments more, I'll be dead.

Oh, cottonwood tree, were you put here for me,
Put here to take me away?
I've done no wrong, but the town cannot see,
And, so, with my life I must pay.

Subject: RE: Cottonwood Tree
From: leeneia
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 10:09 PM

Apparently the author of this song didn't know that cottonwood trees are noted for their weak branches. String a man up on one, and it's likely to snap, thereby posing a threat to bystanders.

And that would never do.

Aged cottonwood branches can be resonant, producing a musical "bonk" sound when dropped. I have exploited this and made the world's first and only cottonwood drum by stretching two branches across 1 x 4 pine pieces. You play it by hitting the cottonwood with spoons.

Subject: RE: Cottonwood Tree
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 10:28 PM

Well, there's gotta be some cottonwoods in the Rocky Mountain West that are not that weak as those were the only kinds of trees available for "stringing" up in some areas I know. Still are almost the only kidn of tree in some spots in Wyoming and Colorado, that I know of. Plus, I had a rope and wooden seat swing in a big old cottonwood when I was a kid, that my dad climbed the tree to put up for me.