Not For Heroes

(album: Songbook Of The American West - 1976)

There are songs about the heroes and the great things they have done
And the hell they went through to get this far
But this song is for the cowboy who never been a hero
And the hard times he goes through all the while
And all that he's got going is his pride
He's never been a hero and he probably never be one
But in his heart he knows he gave his all
My hat goes off to you my friend and to the champ you might have been
If Lady Luck had smiled on you at all

He gives it all he's got but it's never quite enough
Oh the Lord and him alone know how he's tried
But he'll try and try again although he'll never win
And all that he's got going is his pride
He's never been a hero...

The bones are just too tough and he doesn't have enough
Of what it takes to make it to the top
What makes him want to go well Lord I guess I know
He loves it too damn much to ever stop
He's never been a hero...

He bites the dust once more gets up to hear no score
Then he stumbles to the chutes to ease the pain
And underneath his breath he cusses to himself
I'll ride him if I get the chance again
He's never been a hero...