The Gringo's Tale - Steve Earle

Beggin' your pardon there stranger

You look like you’re new to this town

We’re a long way away from the beach here

You won’t see many gringos around

Well I come from West Colorado

And I’ve wandered this world far and wide

I’ve 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

It’s long and it’s 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 I’d 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

That’s where I caught the good colonel’s 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 you’re ever in west Colorado

Tell the folks in Durango goodbye

There’s a price on my head and I can’t go

So I’ll just wait around here 'til I die