I just reckon he knows that’s what the Good Lord wants him to do
Cowboys and critters, in common, they don't watch a clock
When they get hungry, they look for green grass or the Cookie's stew
Them critters’ rights folks, well they say that he’s cruel
Them old cold steel-jawed traps that he’s a-packin’ round
Well, they’re a-sayin’ now that sure do go against their rule
A-tryin’ to trick a coyote with a old steel trap in the ground
Now the Critters’ Rights folks who I have seen
Oh, how they’ll eat a leg of lamb, or a New York Steak
If us old cowboys quit a-raisin’ them, how they’d say we were mean
Why, they’d get so hungry and onry, they’d come wide awake
They’re just like the coyote, the very first to howl
Coyotes, two legged or four, country or city
They ain’t got no bite, but a Helluva lot of growl
And when caught in a trap, then they’ll beg for mercy
Now a cowboy, he’ll take care of his flock or herd
They are his life and he’ll die for them if he has to
‘Cause somewhere deep down in his heart, he’s heard the Lord's word
He won't let his flock be a coyote's stew
Now have you ever heard of a cowboy, a-havin’ a coyote ranch
No and you never will
‘Cause a true cowboy don't want no coyote on his ranch
‘Cause to his herd, the coyote is there to kill
Now you critters’ rights folks, I mean you no harm in any way
Just let the cowboy do what he was meant to do
Just control the coyote, but not do him out in any way
We just want to do what the Good Lord meant for us to do
We don't fight, unless you bring this to our door
‘Cause we don't want your critters a-eatin’ our stock
Like you don't want me to kick in your door
That’s why we trap the coyote, to care for our flock
I know that a shepherd can’t reason to a hungry wolf of wrong and right
The wolf is hungry and that’s the shepherd's last sheep
But the Good Lord will be there, whoever is wrong or right
And at night, the old cowboy trapper is awake until he’s asleep
It’s just a cowboy's way of taking care of his critters, can you understand
No, I reckon not, ‘cause that’s the way that you are
So that’s why, I reckon, that we don't understand
But on your Judgment day, well, I do hope you have a prayer
