I'll bet you never heard ol' Marshall Dillon say Miss Kitty have you ever thought of runnin' away Or settlin' down, would you marry me If I asked you twice and begged you pretty please
She'd of said yes in a New York minute They never tied the knot, his heart wasn't in it He just stole a kiss, as he rode away He never hung his hat up at Kitty's place
Chorus: I should've been a cowboy I should've learned to rope and ride (I'd be) wearin' my six-shooter Ridin' my pony on the cattle drive Stealin' the young girl's hearts Just like Gene and Roy Singin' those camp fire songs Oh, I should've been a cowboy
I might have had a side-kick with a funny name Runnin' wild through the hills chasin' Jesse James Or ending up on the brink of danger Ridin' shot-gun for the Texas rangers
Go west young man, haven't you been told California's full of whiskey, women and gold Sleepin' all night, beneath the desert stars With a dream in my eye, and a prayer in my heart