I've been walking these streets so long
Singing the same old song
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway
Where hustle is the name of the game
And nice guys get washed a- way / Like the snow and the rain
There's been a load of compro-mising
On the road to my ho- rizon
D B E/D E (tacet)
And I'm gonna be where the lights are shining on me
Like a Rhinestone Cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star spangled rodeo
Like a Rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know
And waffles coming over the phone
I really don't mind the rain
And smiles can hide all the pain
But you're down and you're riding the train
That's taking the long way
And I dream of the things I'll do
With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe
There'll be a load of compro-mising
On the road to my ho- rizon
D B E/D E (tacet)
And I'm gonna be where the lights are shining on me
Like a Rhinestone Cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star spangled rodeo
Like a Rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know
And waffles coming over the phone
[Repeat chorus, extra tacet bit on the 2nd Rhinestone]