The Gringo's Tale

Beggin your pardon there stranger
You look like youre new to this town
Were a long way away from the beach here
You wont see many gringos around
Well I come from West Colorado
And Ive wandered this world far and wide
Ive lived for some years in the shadows
And my eyes are unused to this light
If you buy me a strong drink of whiskey
I will tell you the tale of my life
Its long and its sad but it fits me
And it may bring a tear to your eye

All the men of my family were solidiers
The hard fightin straight talkin kind
When my turn came all that was over
But Id already made up my mind
I was there when we blew though Grenada
And I still have to ask myself why
Then we took down that fool Noriega
Thats where I caught the good colonels eye
Well he asked me if I loved my country
And before I had time to reply
He regaled me with tales of past glories
I believed every one of his lies

So I left my old life behind me
Turned my back on my family and friends
And I did everything that they asked me
And I lost some sleep now and again
And I lived like a thief and assassin
I smuggled their poisons sometimes
Until I asked the wrong question in passin

And the colonel himself dropped the dime
So if youre ever in west Colorado
Tell the folks in Durango goodbye
Theres a price on my head and I cant go
So Ill just wait around here til I die

Sarangel Music (ASCAP)