Faster Horses (The Cowboy And The Poet) Tom T. Hall

[Verse 1:]
He was an old time cowboy
Don't you understand
His eyes were sharp as razor blades
His face was leather tanned
His toes were pointed inward
From a hangin' on a horse
He was an old
Philosopher of course
He was so thin I swear
You could have used him for a whip
He had to drink a beer
To keep his breeches on his hips
I knew I had to ask him
About the mysteries of life
He spat between his boots
And he replied

[Chorus:]
"It's faster horses
Younger women
Older whiskey
More money"

[Verse 2:]
He smiled and all his teeth
Were covered with tobacco stains
He said, "It don't do men no good
To pray for peace and rain"
"Peace and rain is just
A way to say prosperity
And buffalo chips is all
That means to me"
I told him I was a poet
I was lookin' for the truth
I do not care for horses
Whiskey women or the loot
I said I was a writer
My soul was all on fire
He looked at me
And he said you are a liar