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Cowboy Songs, and Other Frontier Ballads
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JUAN MURRAY
My name is Juan Murray, and hard for my fate,I was born and raised in Texas, that good old lone star state.I have been to many a round-up, boys, have worked on the trail,Have stood many a long old guard through the rain, yes, sleet, and hail;I have rode the Texas broncos that pitched from morning till noon,And have seen many a storm, boys, between sunrise, yes, and noon.I am a jolly cowboy and have roamed all over the West,And among the bronco riders I rank among the best.But when I left old Midland, with voice right then I spoke,—"I never will see you again until the day I croak."But since I left old Texas so many sights I have sawA-traveling from my native state way out to Mexico,—I am looking all around me and cannot help but smileTo see my nearest neighbors all in the Mexican style.I left my home in Texas to dodge the ball and chain.In the State of Sonora I will forever remain.Farewell to my mother, my friends that are so dear,I would like to see you all again, my lonesome heart to cheer.I have a word to speak, boys, only another to say,—Don't never be a cow-thief, don't never ride a stray;Be careful of your line, boys, and keep it on your tree,—Just suit yourself about it, for it is nothing to me.But if you start to rustling you will come to some sad fate,You will have to go to prison and work for the state.Don't think that I am lying and trying to tell a joke,For the writer has experienced just every word he's spoke.It is better to be honest and let other's stock aloneThan to leave your native country and seek a Mexican home.For if you start to rustling you will surely come to seeThe State of Sonora,—be an outcast just like me.GREER COUNTY
Tom Hight is my name, an old bachelor I am,You'll find me out West in the country of fame,You'll find me out West on an elegant plain,And starving to death on my government claim.Hurrah for Greer County!The land of the free,The land of the bed-bug,Grass-hopper and flea;I'll sing of its praisesAnd tell of its fame,While starving to deathOn my government claim.My house is built of natural sod,Its walls are erected according to hod;Its roof has no pitch but is level and plain,I always get wet if it happens to rain.How happy am I on my government claim,I've nothing to lose, and nothing to gain;I've nothing to eat, I've nothing to wear,—From nothing to nothing is the hardest fare.How happy am I when I crawl into bed,—A rattlesnake hisses a tune at my head,A gay little centipede, all without fear,Crawls over my pillow and into my ear.Now all you claim holders, I hope you will stayAnd chew your hard tack till you're toothless and gray;But for myself, I'll no longer remainTo starve like a dog on my government claim.My clothes are all ragged as my language is rough,My bread is corn dodgers, both solid and tough;But yet I am happy, and live at my easeOn sorghum molasses, bacon, and cheese.Good-bye to Greer County where blizzards arise,Where the sun never sinks and a flea never dies,And the wind never ceases but always remainsTill it starves us all out on our government claims.Farewell to Greer County, farewell to the West,I'll travel back East to the girl I love best,I'll travel back to Texas and marry me a wife,And quit corn bread for the rest of my life.ROSIN THE BOW
I live for the good of my nationAnd my sons are all growing low,But I hope that my next generationWill resemble Old Rosin the Bow.I have traveled this wide world all over,And now to another I'll go,For I know that good quarters are waitingTo welcome Old Rosin the Bow.The gay round of delights I have traveled,Nor will I behind leave a woe,For while my companions are jovialThey'll drink to Old Rosin the Bow.This life now is drawn to a closing,All will at last be so,Then we'll take a full bumper at partingTo the name of Old Rosin the Bow.When I am laid out on the counter,And the people all anxious to know,Just raise up the lid of the coffinAnd look at Old Rosin the Bow.And when through the streets my friends bear me,And the ladies are filled with deep woe,They'll come to the doors and the windowsAnd sigh for Old Rosin the Bow.Then get some fine, jovial fellows,And let them all staggering go;Then dig a deep hole in the meadowAnd in it toss Rosin the Bow.Then get a couple of dornicks,Place one at my head and my toe,And do not forget to scratch on them,"Here lies Old Rosin the Bow."Then let those same jovial fellowsSurround my lone grave in a row,While they drink from my favorite bottleThe health of Old Rosin the Bow.THE GREAT ROUND-UP
When I think of the last great round-upOn the eve of eternity's dawn,I think of the past of the cowboysWho have been with us here and are gone.And I wonder if any will greet meOn the sands of the evergreen shoreWith a hearty, "God bless you, old fellow,"That I've met with so often before.I think of the big-hearted fellowsWho will divide with you blanket and bread,With a piece of stray beef well roasted,And charge for it never a red.I often look upward and wonderIf the green fields will seem half so fair,If any the wrong trail have takenAnd fail to "be in" over there.For the trail that leads down to perditionIs paved all the way with good deeds,But in the great round-up of ages,Dear boys, this won't answer your needs.But the way to the green pastures, though narrow,Leads straight to the home in the sky,And Jesus will give you the passportsTo the land of the sweet by and by.For the Savior has taken the contractTo deliver all those who believe,At the headquarters ranch of his Father,In the great range where none can deceive.The Inspector will stand at the gatewayAnd the herd, one by one, will go by,—The round-up by the angels in judgmentMust pass 'neath his all-seeing eye.No maverick or slick will be talliedIn the great book of life in his home,For he knows all the brands and the earmarksThat down through the ages have come.But, along with the tailings and sleepers,The strays must turn from the gate;No road brand to gain them admission,But the awful sad cry "too late."Yet I trust in the last great round-upWhen the rider shall cut the big herd,That the cowboys shall be representedIn the earmark and brand of the Lord,To be shipped to the bright, mystic regionsOver there in green pastures to lie,And led by the crystal still watersIn that home of the sweet by and by.THE JOLLY COWBOY
My lover, he is a cowboy, he's brave and kind and true,He rides a Spanish pony, he throws a lasso, too;And when he comes to see me our vows we do redeem,He throws his arms around me and thus begins to sing:"Ho, I'm a jolly cowboy, from Texas now I hail,Give me my quirt and pony, I'm ready for the trail;I love the rolling prairies, they're free from care and strife,Behind a herd of longhorns I'll journey all my life."When early dawn is breaking and we are far away,We fall into our saddles, we round-up all the day;We rope, we brand, we ear-mark, I tell you we are smart,And when the herd is ready, for Kansas then we start."Oh, I am a Texas cowboy, lighthearted, brave, and free,To roam the wide, wide prairie, 'tis always joy to me.My trusty little pony is my companion true,O'er creeks and hills and rivers he's sure to pull me through."When threatening clouds do gather and herded lightnings flash,And heavy rain drops splatter, and rolling thunders crash;What keeps the herd from running, stampeding far and wide?The cowboy's long, low whistle and singing by their side."When in Kansas City, our boss he pays us up,We loaf around the city and take a parting cup;We bid farewell to city life, from noisy crowds we come,And back to dear old Texas, the cowboy's native home."Oh, he is coming back to marry the only girl he loves,He says I am his darling, I am his own true love;Some day we two will marry and then no more he'll roam,But settle down with Mary in a cozy little home."Ho, I'm a jolly cowboy, from Texas now I hail,Give me my bond to Mary, I'll quit the Lone Star trail.I love the rolling prairies, they're free from care and strife,But I'll quit the herd of longhorns for the sake of my little wife."
THE CONVICT
When slumbering In my convict cell my childhood days I see,When I was mother's little child and knelt at mother's knee.There my life was peace, I know, I knew no sorrow or pain.Mother dear never did think, I know, I would wear a felon's chain.Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink,Ah, don't you hear the clinking of my chain?Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink,Ah, don't you hear the clinking of my chain?When I had grown to manhood and evil paths I trod,I learned to scorn my fellow-man and even curse my God;And in the evil course I ran for a great length of timeTill at last I ran too long and was condemned for a felon's crime.My prison life will soon be o'er, my life will soon be gone,—May the angels waft it heavenward to a bright and happy home.I'll be at rest, sweet, sweet rest, there is rest in the heavenly home;I'll be at rest, sweet, sweet rest, there is rest in the heavenly home.Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink,Ah, don't you hear the clinking of my chain?Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink,Ah, don't you hear the clinking of my chain?JACK O' DIAMONDS
O Mollie, O Mollie, it is for your sake aloneThat I leave my old parents, my house and my home,That I leave my old parents, you caused me to roam,—I am a rabble soldier and Dixie is my home.Jack o' diamonds, Jack o' diamonds,I know you of old,You've robbed my poor pocketsOf silver and gold.Whiskey, you villain,You've been my downfall,You've kicked me, you've cuffed me,But I love you for all.My foot's in my stirrup, my bridle's in my hand,I'm going to leave sweet Mollie, the fairest in the land.Her parents don't like me, they say I'm too poor,They say I'm unworthy to enter her door.They say I drink whiskey; my money is my own,And them that don't like me can leave me alone.I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,And when I get thirsty I'll lay down and cry.It's beefsteak when I'm hungry,And whiskey when I'm dry,Greenbacks when I'm hard up,And heaven when I die.Rye whiskey, rye whiskey,Rye whiskey I cry,If I don't get rye whiskey,I surely will die.O Baby, O Baby, I've told you before,Do make me a pallet, I'll lie on the floor.I will build me a big castle on yonder mountain high,Where my true love can see me when she comes riding by,Where my true love can see me and help me to mourn,—I am a rabble soldier and Dixie is my home.I'll get up in my saddle, my quirt I'll take in hand,I'll think of you, Mollie, when in some far distant land,I'll think of you, Mollie, you caused me to roam,—I am a rabble soldier and Dixie is my home.If the ocean was whiskey,And I was a duck,I'd dive to the bottomTo get one sweet sup;But the ocean ain't whiskey,And I ain't a duck,So I'll play Jack o' diamondsAnd then we'll get drunk.O Baby, O Baby, I've told you before,Do make me a pallet, I'll lie on the floor.I've rambled and trambled this wide world around,But it's for the rabble army, dear Mollie, I'm bound,It is to the rabble army, dear Mollie, I roam,—I am a rabble soldier and Dixie is my home.I have rambled and gambled all my money away,But it's with the rabble army, O Mollie, I must stay,It is with the rabble army, O Mollie I must roam,—I am a rabble soldier and Dixie is my home.Jack o' diamonds, Jack o' diamonds,I know you of old,You've robbed my poor pocketsOf silver and gold.Rye whiskey, rye whiskey,Rye whiskey I cry,If you don't give me rye whiskeyI'll lie down and die.O Baby, O Baby, I've told you before,Do make me a pallet, I'll lie on the floor.
THE COWBOY'S MEDITATION
At midnight when the cattle are sleepingOn my saddle I pillow my head,And up at the heavens lie peepingFrom out of my cold, grassy bed,—Often and often I wonderedAt night when lying aloneIf every bright star up yonderIs a big peopled world like our own.Are they worlds with their ranges and ranches?Do they ring with rough rider refrains?Do the cowboys scrap there with ComanchesAnd other Red Men of the plains?Are the hills covered over with cattleIn those mystic worlds far, far away?Do the ranch-houses ring with the prattleOf sweet little children at play?At night in the bright stars up yonderDo the cowboys lie down to their rest?Do they gaze at this old world and wonderIf rough riders dash over its breast?Do they list to the wolves in the canyons?Do they watch the night owl in its flight,With their horse their only companionWhile guarding the herd through the night?Sometimes when a bright star is twinklingLike a diamond set in the sky,I find myself lying and thinking,It may be God's heaven is nigh.I wonder if there I shall meet her,My mother whom God took away;If in the star-heavens I'll greet herAt the round-up that's on the last day.In the east the great daylight is breakingAnd into my saddle I spring;The cattle from sleep are awakening,The heaven-thoughts from me take wing,The eyes of my bronco are flashing,Impatient he pulls at the reins,And off round the herd I go dashing,A reckless cowboy of the plains.BILLY VENERO
Billy Venero heard them say,In an Arizona town one day.That a band of Apache Indians were upon the trail of death;Heard them tell of murder done,Three men killed at Rocky Run,"They're in danger at the cow-ranch," said Venero, under breath.Cow-Ranch, forty miles away,Was a little place that layIn a deep and shady valley of the mighty wilderness;Half a score of homes were there,And in one a maiden fairHeld the heart of Billy Venero, Billy Venero's little Bess.So no wonder he grew paleWhen he heard the cowboy's taleOf the men that he'd seen murdered the day before at Rocky Run."Sure as there's a God above,I will save the girl I love;By my love for little Bessie I will see that something's done."Not a moment he delayedWhen his brave resolve was made."Why man," his comrades told him when they heard of his daring plan,"You are riding straight to death."But he answered, "Save your breath;I may never reach the cow-ranch but I'll do the best I can."As he crossed the alkaliAll his thoughts flew on aheadTo the little band at cow-ranch thinking not of danger near;With his quirt's unceasing whirlAnd the jingle of his spursLittle brown Chapo bore the cowboy o'er the far away frontier.Lower and lower sank the sun;He drew rein at Rocky Run;"Here those men met death, my Chapo," and he stroked his glossy mane;"So shall those we go to warnEre the coming of the mornIf we fail,—God help my Bessie," and he started on again.Sharp and clear a rifle shotWoke the echoes of the spot."I am wounded," cried Venero, as he swayed from side to side;"While there's life there's always hope;Slowly onward I will lope,—If I fail to reach the cow-ranch, Bessie Lee shall know I tried."I will save her yet," he cried,"Bessie Lee shall know I tried,"And for her sake then he halted in the shadow of a hill;From his chapareras he tookWith weak hands a little book;Tore a blank leaf from its pages saying, "This shall be my will."From a limb a pen he broke,And he dipped his pen of oakIn the warm blood that was spurting from a wound above his heart."Rouse," he wrote before too late;"Apache warriors lie in wait.Good-bye, Bess, God bless you darling," and he felt the cold tears start.Then he made his message fast,Love's first message and its last,To the saddle horn he tied it and his lips were white with pain,"Take this message, if not me,Straight to little Bessie Lee;"Then he tied himself to the saddle, and he gave his horse the rein.Just at dusk a horse of brownWet with sweat came panting downThe little lane at the cow-ranch, stopped in front of Bessie's door;But the cowboy was asleep,And his slumbers were so deep,Little Bess could never wake him though she tried for evermore.You have heard the story toldBy the young and by the old,Away down yonder at the cow-ranch the night the Apaches came;Of that sharp and bloody fight,How the chief fell in the fightAnd the panic-stricken warriors when they heard Venero's name.And the heavens and earth betweenKeep a little flower so greenThat little Bess had planted ere they laid her by his side.DOGIE SONG
The cow-bosses are good-hearted chunks,Some short, some heavy, more long;But don't matter what he looks like,They all sing the same old song.On the plains, in the mountains, in the valleys,In the south where the days are long,The bosses are different fellows;Still they sing the same old song."Sift along, boys, don't ride so slow;Haven't got much time but a long round to go.Quirt him in the shoulders and rake him down the hip;I've cut you toppy mounts, boys, now pair off and rip.Bunch the herd at the old meet,Then beat 'em on the tail;Whip 'em up and down the sidesAnd hit the shortest trail."THE BOOZER
I'm a howler from the prairies of the West.If you want to die with terror, look at me.I'm chain-lightning—if I ain't, may I be blessed.I'm the snorter of the boundless prairie.He's a killer and a hater!He's the great annihilator!He's a terror of the boundless prairie.I'm the snoozer from the upper trail!I'm the reveler in murder and in gore!I can bust more Pullman coaches on the railThan anyone who's worked the job before.He's a snorter and a snoozer.He's the great trunk line abuser.He's the man who puts the sleeper on the rail.I'm the double-jawed hyena from the East.I'm the blazing, bloody blizzard of the States.I'm the celebrated slugger; I'm the Beast.I can snatch a man bald-headed while he waits.He's a double-jawed hyena!He's the villain of the scena!He can snatch a man bald-headed while he waits.DRINKING SONG
Drink that rot gut, drink that rot gut,Drink that red eye, boys;It don't make a damn wherever we land,We hit her up for joy.We've lived in the saddle and ridden trail,Drink old Jordan, boys,We'll go whooping and yelling, we'll all go a-helling;Drink her to our joy.Whoop-ee! drink that rot gut, drink that red nose,Whenever you get to town;Drink it straight and swig it mighty,Till the world goes round and round!A FRAGMENT
I'd rather hear a rattler rattle,I'd rather buck stampeding cattle,I'd rather go to a greaser battle,Than—Than to—Than to fight—Than to fight the bloody In-ji-ans.I'd rather eat a pan of dope,I'd rather ride without a rope,I'd rather from this country lope,Than—Than to—Than to fight—Than to fight the bloody In-ji-ans.A MAN NAMED HODS
Come, all you old cowpunchers, a story I will tell,And if you'll all be quiet, I sure will sing it well;And if you boys don't like it, you sure can go to hell.Back in the day when I was young, I knew a man named Hods;He wasn't fit fer nothin' 'cep turnin' up the clods.But he came west in fifty-three, behind a pair of mules,And 'twas hard to tell between the three which was the biggest fools.Up on the plains old Hods he got and there his trouble began.Oh, he sure did get in trouble,—and old Hodsie wasn't no man.He met a bunch of Indian bucks led by Geronimo,And what them Indians did to him, well, shorely I don't know.But they lifted off old Hodsie's skelp and left him out to die,And if it hadn't been for me, he'd been in the sweet by and by.But I packed him back to Santa Fé and there I found his mules,For them dad-blamed two critters had got the Indians fooled.I don't know how they done it, but they shore did get away,And them two mules is livin' up to this very day.Old Hodsie's feet got toughened up, he got to be a sport,He opened up a gamblin' house and a place of low resort;He got the prettiest dancing girls that ever could be found,—Them girls' feet was like rubber balls and they never staid on the ground.And then thar came Billy the Kid, he envied Hodsie's wealth,He told old Hods to leave the town, 'twould be better for his health;Old Hodsie took the hint and got, but he carried all his wealth.And he went back to Noo York State with lots of dinero,And now they say he's senator, but of that I shore don't know.A FRAGMENT
I am fur from my sweetheartAnd she is fur from me,And when I'll see my sweetheartI can't tell when 'twill be.But I love her just the same,No matter where I roam;And that there girl will wait fur meWhenever I come home.I've roamed the Texas prairies,I've followed the cattle trail,I've rid a pitching ponyTill the hair came off his tail.I've been to cowboy dances,I've kissed the Texas girls,But they ain't none what can compareWith my own sweetheart's curls.THE LONE STAR TRAIL
I'm a rowdy cowboy just off the stormy plains,My trade is girting saddles and pulling bridle reins.Oh, I can tip the lasso, it is with graceful ease;I rope a streak of lightning, and ride it where I please.My bosses they all like me, they say I am hard to beat;I give them the bold standoff, you bet I have got the cheek.I always work for wages, my pay I get in gold;I am bound to follow the longhorn steer until I am too old.Ci yi yip yip yip pe ya.I am a Texas cowboy and I do ride the range;My trade is cinches and saddles and ropes and bridle reins;With Stetson hat and jingling spurs and leather up to the knees,Gray backs as big as chili beans and fighting like hell with fleas.And if I had a little stake, I soon would married be,But another week and I must go, the boss said so to-day.My girl must cheer up courage and choose some other one,For I am bound to follow the Lone Star Trail until my race is run.Ci yi yip yip yip pe ya.It almost breaks my heart for to have to go away,And leave my own little darling, my sweetheart so far away.But when I'm out on the Lone Star Trail often I'll think of thee,Of my own dear girl, the darling one, the one I would like to see.And when I get to a shipping point, I'll get on a little spreeTo drive away the sorrow for the girl that once loved me.And though red licker stirs us up we're bound to have our fun,And I intend to follow the Lone Star Trail until my race is run.Ci yi yip yip yip pe ya.I went up the Lone Star Trail in eighteen eighty-three;I fell in love with a pretty miss and she in love with me."When you get to Kansas write and let me know;And if you get in trouble, your bail I'll come and go."When I got up in Kansas, I had a pleasant dream;I dreamed I was down on Trinity, down on that pleasant stream;I dreampt my true love right beside me, she come to go my bail;I woke up broken hearted with a yearling by the tail.Ci yi yip yip yip pe ya.In came my jailer about nine o'clock,A bunch of keys was in his hand, my cell door to unlock,Saying, "Cheer up, my prisoner, I heard some voice sayYou're bound to hear your sentence some time to-day."In came my mother about ten o'clock,Saying, "O my loving Johnny, what sentence have you got?""The jury found me guilty and the judge a-standin' byHas sent me down to Huntsville to lock me up and die."Ci yi yip yip yip pe ya.Down come the jailer, just about eleven o'clock,With a bunch of keys all in his hand the cell doors to unlock,Saying, "Cheer up, my prisoner, I heard the jury sayJust ten long years in Huntsville you're bound to go and stay."Down come my sweetheart, ten dollars in her hand,Saying, "Give this to my cowboy, 'tis all that I command;O give this to my cowboy and think of olden times,Think of the darling that he has left behind."Ci yi yip yip yip pe ya.WAY DOWN IN MEXICO
O boys, we're goin' far to-night,Yeo-ho, yeo-ho!We'll take the greasers now in handAnd drive 'em in the Rio Grande,Way down in Mexico.We'll hang old Santa Anna soon,Yeo-ho, yeo-ho!And all the greaser soldiers, too,To the chune of Yankee Doodle Doo,Way down in Mexico.We'll scatter 'em like flocks of sheep,Yeo-ho, yeo-ho!We'll mow 'em down with rifle ballAnd plant our flag right on their wall,Way down in Mexico.Old Rough and Ready, he's a trump,Yeo-ho, yeo-ho!He'll wipe old Santa Anna outAnd put the greasers all to rout,Way down in Mexico.Then we'll march back by and by,Yeo-ho, yeo-ho!And kiss the gals we left to homeAnd never more we'll go and roam,Way down in Mexico.RATTLESNAKE—A RANCH HAYING SONG
A nice young ma-wa-wanLived on a hi-wi-will;A nice young ma-wa-wan,For I knew him we-we-well.To my rattle, to my roo-rah-ree!This nice young ma-wa-wanWent out to mo-wo-wowTo see if he-we-weCould make a sho-wo-wow.To my rattle, to my roo-rah-ree!He scarcely mo-wo-wowedHalf round the fie-we-wieldTill up jumped—come a rattle, come a sna-wa-wake,And bit him on the he-we-weel.To my rattle, to my roo-rah-ree!He laid right dow-we-wownUpon the gro-wo-woundAnd shut his ey-wy-wyesAnd looked all aro-wo-wound.To my rattle, to my roo-rah-ree!"O pappy da-wa-wad,Go tell my ga-wa-walThat I'm a-goin' ter di-wi-wie,For I know I sha-wa-wall."To my rattle, to my roo-rah-ree!"O pappy da-wa-wad,Go spread the ne-wu-wus;And here come Sa-wa-wallWithout her sho-woo-woos."To my rattle, to my roo-rah-ree!"O John, O Joh-wa-wahn,Why did you go-wo-woWay down in the mea-we-we-dowSo far to mo-wo-wow?"To my rattle, to my roo-rah-ree!"O Sal, O Sa-wa-wall,Why don't you kno-wo-wowWhen the grass gits ri-wi-wipe,It must be mo-wo-woed?"To my rattle, to my roo-rah-ree!Come all young gir-wi-wirlsAnd shed a tea-we-wearFor this young ma-wa-wanThat died right he-we-were.To my rattle, to my roo-rah-ree!Come all young me-we-wenAnd warning ta-wa-wake,And don't get bi-wi-witBy a rattle sna-wa-wake.To my rattle, to my roo-rah-ree!
