Intro
A E7 A 
 
Verse 1
 A 
My wife said I should retire I think you’ve lost your fire 
 D                                          A 
And you’ll never write the perfect country song 
  E7 
What’s that you say my dear try the other ear 
 E7                                A 
I’ll know when it’s time to move along 
 
Verse 2
 A 
You know I get these muscle cramps pickin up my amp 
 D                                 A 
I need help just to get up on the stage 
 E7 
My eyes are getting dim I gotta feel to plug it in 
 E7                                A 
And the only thing I’m feelin is my age 
 
Chorus
  A                              E 
It’s knowin when to quit the business 
 E7                   A 
Head on down to old Mexico 
  D                                    A7        F# 
It’s cold out on the prairies when you tour in January 
  B                                    E 
With the wind chill it’s forty nine below 
 A                              E 
It’s knowin when to quit the business 
 E7                         A 
Time to give it up and let it g 
  D                                A7        F# 
This musical direction needs a southerly connection 
  A                          E       A 
It’s knowin when to quit and go to Mexico 
 
Verse 3
 A 
I still got some cowboy pride In this dried up wrinkled hide 
 D                           A 
I feel like twenty one in my brain 
 E7 
I stand up here so proud but out there in the crowd 
 E7                               A 
Is a look of mild discomfort and disdain 
 
Verse 4
 A 
If we pair things to the bone sell everything we own 
 D                                A 
We’ll still be broke and livin in the red 
 E7 
Oh, did I fail to mention we get the old age pension 
 E7                                 A 
We can live on that but only if we’re dead 
 
Chorus
  A                              E 
It’s knowin when to quit the business 
 E7                   A 
Head on down to old Mexico 
  D                                    A7        F# 
It’s cold out on the prairies when you tour in January 
  B                                    E 
With the wind chill it’s forty nine below 
 A                              E 
It’s knowin when to quit the business 
 E7                         A 
Time to give it up and let it go 
  D                                A7        F# 
This musical direction needs a southerly connection 
  A                          E       A 
It’s knowin when to quit and go to Mexico