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Desperado Trail Lyrics by Riders in the Sky

Cowboy Jubilee

1981

[Verse 1]
As a young man I went ridin' with an outlaw rebel band
I was tired of raisin' cattle and a livin' off the land
A wild and restless wind rushed the life within my veins
Burning led and wasted blood would spot the trail I claimed
I learned fast from my compadres how to ride and shoot and run
I was lightnin' with my fist but soon was faster with my gun
And I learned no fear of danger, for to die was not to fail
As death would mark the ending of the desperado trail
[Chorus]
Death would mark the ending of the desperado trail
[Verse 2]
I rode with pride and valor as we chased thе payroll stage
My daring matched the tеrror of my six-gun's mighty blaze
Soon many men had fallen by my tactics of surprise
Thirty of them died as they gazed into my eyes
Oh there never was an iron vault too safe for me to crack
There never was a train I couldn't to make to jump the track
And I knew the secret hideouts where the lonely night winds wail
So soon I was no stranger on the desperado trail
[Chorus]
Soon I was no stranger on the desperado trail
[Verse 3]
But I danced with musty ladies at saloons in every town
And the whiskey board as freely as the tails that I could sound
And soon too many knew the trail that I did choose to ride
And I learned the way an outlaw feels when there's no place to hide
One cold night as I lay my fire a voice behind me said
"You killed my son three years ago and now I'll see you dead"
I spun and dropped my finger but I drew to no avail
His bullet marked the ending of my desperado trail
I faced the sky, I tasted blood, I couldn't draw my breath
My vision blurred and faded as I struggled now with death
Each second of my life quickly flashed inside my head
My killer stood above me makin' sure that I was dead
And in his eyes I saw the face of every man I'd slain
But when the last one was his own I knew he too must lose the game
As he turned I raised my dying gun and sent him on to Hell
For vengeance never dies along the desperado trail
[Chorus]
Vengeance never dies along the desperado trail
Credits
Riders in the Sky

Riders in the Sky

About “Desperado Trail” by Riders in the Sky

Read the complete lyrics to "Desperado Trail" by Riders in the Sky from the album "Cowboy Jubilee" in 1981. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Country.

"Desperado Trail" is performed by Riders in the Sky. from the album "Cowboy Jubilee" in 1981 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Desperado Trail", explore more songs by Riders in the Sky using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Desperado Trail" is credited to Riders in the Sky. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Desperado Trail" appears on "Cowboy Jubilee" in 1981.

Visit the Riders in the Sky artist page at /artist/riders-in-the-sky for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.