It Ain't The Years, It's The Miles

I walked behind the chute, stapped my spurs to my boots

At that big rodeo in Cheyenne

Feelin' tired and sore from a ride the day before

And a thousand other rides since I began

As I climbed up the gate I heard that young cowboy sayin'

"Well, that ol' man ain't gonna ride," and I had to smile

I said, "Son, it ain't age that makes me look this way

It ain't the years, boy, it's the miles"

It ain't the years that I've known that have taken their toll

'Cause they've been few

If you took all the mashings, the draggings and the crashings

You'd probably look the same way I do

It's the million miles of road and gettin' snatched around and throwed

That finally put the cramp in my style

It ain't age that makes me look this way

It ain't the years, boy, it's the miles

♪

I went on and made my ride, only scored a 65

But you know what really made my day complete

Was when I looked up just in time to see that young cowboy goin' flyin'

And land in a pile at my feet

And as the first aid came to haul him away

I said, "Son, you'll be alright in a little while"

He's on his way to findin' out what it's all about

It ain't the years, boy, it's the miles

It ain't the years that I've known that have taken their toll

'Cause they've been few

If you took all the mashings, the draggings and the crashings

You'd probably look the same way I do

It's the million miles of road and gettin' snatched around and throwed

That finally put the cramp in my style

It ain't age that makes me look this way

It ain't the years, boy, it's the miles

It ain't age that makes me look this way

It ain't the years, boy, it's the miles