Wildcat Kelly, lookin' mighty pale Was standing by the sheriff's side And when that sheriff said, "I'm sending you to jail" Wildcat raised his head and cried Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above Don't fence me in Let me ride through the wild open country that I love Don't fence me in Let me be by myself in the evening breeze Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees Send me off forever, but I ask you please Don't fence me in Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle Underneath the western skies On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder Till I see the mountains rise I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences And gaze at the moon until I lose my senses I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences Don't fence me in Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above Don't fence me in Let me ride through the wild open country that I love Don't fence me in Let me be by myself in the evening breeze Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees Send me off forever, but I ask you please Don't fence me in Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle Underneath the western skies On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder Till I see the mountains rise I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences And gaze at the moon until I lose my senses I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences Don't fence me in