[Verse 1]
He got down out of the cattle truck in the Amarillo night
He looked up at the Texas sky and thought of his last ride
He'd trade all his tomorrows for eight seconds one more time
He coulda made World Champion Cowboy back in 1969

[Verse 2]
He thanked the driver for the ride and he closed the semi door
And limped across the parkin' lot to another liquor store
He held onto the bottle as he counted out his change
And he felt like somе old saddle bronc who'd been turned out on the rangе

[Chorus]
When the rodeo is over, where does the cowboy go?
Never thought it'd be his last ride 'til the last time he got throwed
When your heart can't take the losin' and your knees can't take the blows
When the rodeo is over, where does the cowboy go?

[Post-Chorus]
Where does the cowboy go?

[Bridge]
Whiskey on his breath and the age in his eyes
He'll hitch a ride on the interstate and fade into the sunrise

[Verse 3]
Now, Sedona, she's a vortex, but she's sweeter than the coast
He smokes cigarettes he can't afford and whistles to a ghost
His boots belong to memory and his spurs belong to rust
He'll be pickin' up his turquoise and leave the buckles in the dust
[Chorus]
When the rodeo is over, where does the cowboy go?
He never thought it'd be his last ride 'til the last time he got throwed
When your heart can't take the losin' and your knees can't take the blows
When the rodeo is over, where do the cowboys go?

[Post-Chorus]
When the rodeo is over, where does the cowboy go?

[Outro: Billy Joe Shaver]
Up where the small roads grow bigger
Somewhere on Music Row
A cowboy was a-takin' his chances
Hopin' that Tanya will show