Inspired by Felix Perry

And La Belle Rouge,

And Their Recent Epic Poems,

About The Old Black Rose Saloon

“I should've been a cowboy,
I should've learned to rope and ride,
Wearin my six-shooter,

Ridin my pony on a cattle drive;
Stealin the young girl's hearts,
Just like old Gene and Roy,
Singin those campfire songs,
Oh, I should've been a cowboy.”

Toby Keith,

Should Have Been A Cowboy

Why I ever became a card shark

I guess that I will never really know

But after readin their real nostalgic poems

Back to the old Black Rose my thoughts did go

There we were, playin Poker all night

In Miss Belle’s saloon, in old Dodge City

And gosh darn, I was proud of my two pair

Drinkin too much, they looked awful pretty

And now that I’m rememberin that dreadful night

I seem to recall that old Jersey Ed was there, too

Along with my devilish brother, old Long Georg

And several of old Sheriff Fee’s real motley crew

Well, old Brother Jersey Ed, I just know he was cheatin

And Long Georg, he  was always a real shady character

But when that damned old Sheriff Fee up & raised my bet

I raised him right back, and I give ‘em my very best stare

Suddenly, old Jersey yells, ‘The Sheriff’s got a gun!’

So I drew mine, and I missed, cause I was so drunk

And old Long Georg now starts a yellin real loud

And then that old Fee, shoots me deader than a skunk

And now, I’m rememberin back how I was a ponderin

As my spirit began a floatin, up to that lonesome sky

Why I hadn’t been a cowboy, instead of a card shark

Damn It - Why, Oh, Why, Oh Why…

But just then, that sweet Miss Belle, the proprietor

She yanked my old floatin spirit, right back in

And she and her girls, propped me up in a corner

And they kept feedin me some really mighty fine gin

But if I ever see them fellers in the Black Rose agin

I’m gonna look ‘em all, right smack square in the eye

And I’m gonna tell ‘em all, that I shoulda been a cowboy

Damn it, now this old dead card shark has a hankerin to cry

“Girls, we’re gonna need another mop up in the corner.”

“Yes, Miss Belle.”

“And give that old stiff another drink,

Old Dead Ed really looks like Hell!”

“Yes, Miss Belle!”

©2008, Old Dead Black Ed

And That Russell Crowe Feller,

He Was The Nicest One,

In That Whole Damned Bunch

Of Cutthroats & Card Sharks.

He Even Got Me an Acting Gig,

As a Dead Cowboy,

In 3:10 To Yuma.

And He Said I was Pretty Damned Good, Too.

I Knew I Shoulda Been a Cowboy…