[Verse 1]
I'll bet you've never heard ol' Marshal Dillon say
"Miss Kitty, have you ever thought of runnin' away
Settlin' down, would you marry me
If I asked you twice and begged you pretty please?"
She'da said yes in a New York minute
They never tied the knot, his heart wasn't in it
Just blew a kiss as he rode away
He never hung his hat up at Kitty's place

[Chorus]
I should've been a cowboy
I shoulda learned to rope and ride
I'd be wearin' my six-shooter
Ridin' my pony on a cattle drive
Stealin' a young girl's heart
Just like Gene and Roy
Singin' those campfire songs
Oh, I should've been a cowboy

[Verse 2]
I mighta had a sidekick with a funny name
Runnin' wild through the hills, chasin' Jesse James
Ending up on the brink of danger
Ridin' shotgun for the Texas Rangers
Go west, young man, haven't you been told?
California's full of whiskey, women, and gold
Layin' out all night beneath the desert stars
A gleam in my eye and a prayer in my heart
[Chorus]
I should've been a cowboy
I shoulda learned to rope and ride
I'd be wearin' my six-shooter
Ridin' my pony on a cattle drive
Stealin' a young girl's heart
Yeah, just like Gene and Roy
Singin' those campfire songs
Oh, I should've been a cowboy
I should've been a cowboy

[Chorus]
I should've been a cowboy
I shoulda learned to rope and ride
I'd be wearin' my six-shooter
Ridin' my pony on a cattle drive
Stealin' a young girl's heart
Yeah, just like ol' Gene and Roy
Singin' those campfire songs
Oh, I should've been a cowboy

[Outro]
I should've been a cowboy
Yeah, I should've been a cowboy