Don McLean - Bronco Bill's Lament Lyrics
I coulda been most anything I put my mind to be,
But a cowboy's life was the only life for me.
It's a strong man's occupation ridin' herd and livin' free,
But strong men often fail
Where shrewd men can prevail,
But oh god how I worked my youth away.
Well you may not recognise my face, I used to be a star,
A cowboy hero known both near and far.
I perched upon a silver mount and sang with my guitar,
But the studio of course,
owned my saddle and my horse,
But that six-gun on the wall belongs to me,
Oh god I can't live a memory.
And point that gun at all the prideful men.
All the voyeurs and the lawyers who can pull a fountain pen,
And put you where they choose,
With the language that they use,
And enslave you till you work your youth away,
Oh god how I worked my youth away.
Whoopee ty yioh
Whoopee ty yi ay,
One man's work is another man's play
Oh god how I worked my youth away.
You see I always liked the notion of a cowboy fighting crime,
This photograph was taken in my prime,
I could beat those desperados but there's no sense fightin' time,
But the singin' was a ball
Cause I'm not musical at all,
I moved my lips to someone else's voice.
[Repeat verse 1]
Other Lyrics by Artist
- Don McLean - South Of The Border
- Don McLean - Sea Man
- Don McLean - I Tune The World Out
- Don McLean - Love Hurts
- Don McLean - Jerusalem
- Don McLean - Love Letters
- Don McLean - Crazy Eyes
- Don McLean - Sea Cruise
- Don McLean - Dream Lover
- Don McLean - Love In My Heart
- Don McLean - Eventually
- Don McLean - Going For The Gold
- Don McLean - What Will The World Be Like
- Don McLean - The Touch Of Her Hand
- Don McLean - Believers
- Don McLean - Left For Dead On The Road Of Love
- Don McLean - Words And Music
- Don McLean - Crying
Rand Lyrics
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Don McLean Bronco Bill's Lament Comments
Seeing him in Middlesbrough soon awesome stuff
Just found this LP in mint condition for 2 bucks 🔥
This is the song that started my passion for Don McLeans music.
A great example of American songwriting. Great studio version with wailing pedal steel guitar, but I wish the volume level of the instrumentation was a little lower to allow Don's sonorous voice to come through better.
A phenomenal song; the lyrics, the rich orchestral instrumentals. So much of this song is meaningful to me. How to explain it's lack of popularity? Perhaps it landed at the wrong moment in history.
I bought and loved this album back in the day. Rick
B-side to "Dreidel" 1972 United Artists Records
Esta buena canción la compuso DON MCLEAN y la canto y la publico en el año 1972
I saw him a lot in concerts and he often dressed in cowboy outfit and sang this song first (which sounds better with just the guitar). I love this song and sang and played it outside a lot in the Village and Central Park and parties in my 20s and 30s. I was always so moved by it even at that age as I am by so many of his songs. I even related to those lines I worked my youth away as my story of my painful childhood and I moved my lips to someone else's voice as following my parents' voice. So many great songs on this and the American Pie album.
Don McLean is just the best, don't you think? This is one of my favourite albums by him and there are just no words for how amazing his music is. Not to mention.... he sure was quite handsome haha
I'd forgotten this song ...... watched a programme on BBC4 yesterday about American Pie and rediscovered Don McLean. What a great songwriter.
I live minutes away from the place in the picture and where he recorded this album in oyster bay long island ny
There's no need to publish the words to Don McLean's songs (thanks anyway.) His voice was/is so crystal clear you could understand every word of it. I still remember the first time I listened to "Don McLean" (the album) and it's possibly still my favorite album of all time. Just amazing music, song writing and singing.
I just retired after 32 years, this song really hits home
SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SHARE...thank youx
just found an original vinyl im so happy:)
In 60 years of listening to stuff, it doesn't get any better than this.
the whole 1972 album is a long time favorite. Very original and creative.
One of Don's greatest songs. Absolutely magnificent. And what an album. Not a weak spot on the whole thing. My fave album of his. Amazing that it's only had 9,000 views.
Love the topic. The music is great.
That is the rarest form of artisty, write the song, play the song and sing it beautifully. Rare.
Beautiful song, I love it !
Great song by a truly outstanding artist!!
I adore this song, and the whole album. :)
6828Lu me too!