It was out in Alamosa in the year of '83
There was one old lady, two cowboys, a shotgun-guard and me
And the driver said that Big Nose George and his outlaws was about
As we came upon the hill we heard that old familiar shout:

Hands up -on the Colorado Trail
Hands up - throw down that sack of mail
Hands up - First the men and then the women now
Turn your pockets inside out
You're going to get a trimming

The old lady ups and cries, it's 50 bucks is all she got
The old cowboy tries to calm her and he says, I'll tell you what
Put your money underneath that cushion right here on the coach
And I'll give you 5 dollars to pass by old George

Ah look into my eyes, it's mighty strange to tell
This old cowboy seems to know those outlaws pretty well
They had some words and Big Nose George decided to take a stroll
Up to the coach where he reaches in and takes the lady's roll

Hands up…

When those outlaws left we told that cowboy he had better tell
Before we hung him, what you said to all those men you knew so well
He said, I told old George today I was travelling rather shy
But I knew where there was fifty if he'd kindly pass me by

I've always been a gambler, Johnny Burgess is my name
My rule is 50/50 when you stick me to the game
He was tugging on his boots while he was sitting on a rock
Pulled out a thousand dollars he had hid inside his sock

Hands up…

He pulled out five hundred dollars, placed it in the lady's hands
He said, you staked me to the game ma'am now you take half the grand
And the rest of us stood sheepish and each one thanked the man
That just a moment earlier we all had wanted to hang

Then a bottle came from nowhere and a toast was raised that day
We said here's to the gambler who always pays his stakes
And that lady cried and kissed him, thanked the gamblin' man
The bottle went around once more, then we all shook ...

Hands up….

Lyrics: Tom May