Should've Been a Cowboy
American Aquarium Lyrics

I bet you've never heard old Marshal Dillon say
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Marshal Dillon ran away with Miss Kitty?

Miss Kitty have you ever thought of running away
Kitty, would you ever consider leaving this small town and starting a new life with me?

Settling down would you marry me
If we were to leave and build a new life together, would you marry me?

If I ask you twice and beg you pretty please
If I asked you again, and pleaded with you, would you say yes?

She'd've said, "Yes" in a New York minute
She would have said yes in an instant.

They never tied the knot
They never got married.

His heart wasn't in it
He didn't really want to get married.

He stole a kiss as he rode away
He gave her a goodbye kiss before leaving.

He never hung his hat up at Kitty's place
He never stayed with her for any length of time.

I might have had a sidekick with a funny name
I could have had a friend with a humorous name as a traveling companion.

Running wild through the hills chasing Jesse James
We could have chased outlaws and lived freely in the countryside.

Ending up on the brink of danger
Our adventures could have gone too far and put us in serious danger.

Riding shotgun for the Texas Rangers
I could have been a ranger or law enforcement officer, working alongside others to keep the peace.

Go west young man, haven't you been told
It's time to go west, where the opportunities and excitement are waiting.

California's full of whiskey, women and gold
California is where we can find wealth, liquor, and women in abundance.

Sleeping out all night beneath the desert stars
We can sleep outside and appreciate the beautiful desert sky.

With a dream in my eye and a prayer in my heart
We would have had aspirations and hopes for what our journey could bring.

I should've been a cowboy
I regret not having lived the rough-and-tumble cowboy life with adventure, freedom, and romance.

I should've learned to rope and ride
I should have learned the skills necessary to be a skilled cowboy and ride horses convincingly.

Wearing my six-shooter riding my pony on a cattle drive
I would have been wearing leather, carrying a revolver, and herding cattle on horseback.

Stealing the young girls' hearts
I would have been irresistible to young women with my rugged persona and charm.

Just like Gene and Roy
I would have had the suave and heroic spirit of legendary Western actors Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.

Singing those campfire songs
I'd have spent nights by the fire roasting marshmallows and strumming my guitar, singing songs with friends.