I walked behind the chute

Strapped my spurs to my boots

At that Big Rodeo in Cheyenne

Feelin' tired and

Sore for 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 ole 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 trowed

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

Went on and made my ride

Only scored a sixty-five

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've 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 trowed

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