Well, from Houston to New Orleans
To the badlands way out west
I high ride anywhere beneath the sun
Yeah there ain't no girl waiting for me
Left up in my afterglory
That's the life of a hired gun

You know the sheriff and his [bad word] a-ridin' after me
Spent my time living on [bad word] 
Yeah there ain't no one left to mourn me
No one left up to adore me
And that's the life of a hired gun

Sometimes I think I'll settle down
And change my ways
But what's the use in dreaming?
For I just drift around
I move from town to town

Well, I'll go where they require me
And I'll fight for those who hire me
Spend my time living like a lonely one
Yeah there ain't no girl waiting for me
No one left up in my afterglory
That's the life of a hired gun

Sometimes I think that I'll settle down
And change my ways
But what's the use in dreaming?
For I just drift around
And I move from town to town

So as I get back from New Orleans
I still got Houston in my sights
I've been high riding in sun
Keepin' up the fight
Yet but as I get back from shore
I'm still at bay from any war
And that's the life of a hired gun
That's the life
That's the life
That's the life
Of a hired gun