[A D] 
Friend I'm writing you this letter. 
[A] 
I think it's darn sure overdue. 
[E] 
You're thinking, “Mind your own damn business.” 
[A] 
I won't blame you if you do. 
[D] 
You know our range is getting smaller. 
[A] 
I hear you're all broke up inside. 
[E] 
But it ain't the broncs that's going to kill ya. 
[A] 
It's your own fool cowboy pride. 

I hear you've left the Chimeneas. 
You know that makes me kind of sad. 
She's a great ol' Spanish land grant. 
You're about the best she ever had. 
But cow boss and corporation 
Seem to naturally collide 
And you came off the loser 
With your damned ol' cowboy pride. 

[Chorus:] 
[A D E] 
Cowboy pride will always get a man through 
But sometimes it makes a fool of you. 
[Bm E] 
Good women are hard to find, 
[A] 
Talkin' ‘bout the faithful kind. 

Now you're runnin' with that waitress 
And she's under age and wild. 
Well, your wife's the best there is, son. 
Would you leave her for that child? 
She stuck with you through the hard times. 
Think of all those nights she cried. 
Will she become another victim 
Of your damned ol' cowboy pride? 

Well, I guess I've said my piece, friend, 
Just something I had to do. 
You see, I made the same mistakes with Julie 
Before she fell in love with you. 
Head on home, it ain't too late, son. 
Time to put the past aside. 
So you don't end up like me now 
Ridin' on ol' cowboy pride.