The Gringo's Tale Lyrics - 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 

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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' 

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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