| They got a damned ole four lane highway | 
| Where I used to ride ole paint | 
| Where them open spaces used to be | 
| Now you know they ain’t | 
| They built a Holiday Inn up around the bend | 
| Where my cattle used to graze | 
| And it’s hard to be a cowboy these days | 
| They got some ole silly law that says | 
| I can’t tote my gun | 
| Hell, I ain’t gonna shoot nobody | 
| I just wear it around for fun | 
| I guess I’m too old and ornery | 
| To even change my ways | 
| And it’s hard to be a cowboy these days | 
| They got girls in New York City | 
| That would cost you a whole week’s pay | 
| But them cowgirls in my younger days | 
| Just gave their love away | 
| They got shoppin' malls and a lot of balls | 
| Askin' more for fuel | 
| My horse don’t run on gasoline | 
| And I ain’t no crazy fool | 
| Someday them wells will all run dry | 
| But 'til then I’m just amazed | 
| And it’s hard to be a cowboy these days | 
| Yeah, they got girls in New York City | 
| That would cost you a whole week’s pay | 
| But them cowgirls in my younger days | 
| Just gave their love away | 
| They got pills to take you higher | 
| Pills to take you low | 
| Shoot, we used to drink pure ole cactus juice | 
| And just go where we wanna go | 
| Now they disco dance down on the ranch | 
| And the cowpokes think they’re gay | 
| And it’s hard to be a cowboy these days | 
| Ain’t hard to be a cowboy these days |