Cowboy Songs Part 14

A gold ring he gave her in token of his love, On the face was the image of the dove; They mutually agreed to get married with speed And were promised by the powers above.

But the fickle-minded maiden vowed again to wed To young Warren who lived in that place; It was a fatal blow that caused his overthrow And added to her shame and disgrace.

When Fuller came to hear he was deprived of his dear Whom he vowed by the powers to wed, With his heart full of woe unto Warren he did go, And smilingly unto him he said: "Young man, you have injured me to gratify your cause By reporting that I left a prudent wife; Acknowledge now that you have wronged me, for although I break the laws, Young Warren, I'll deprive you of your life."

Then Warren, he replied: "Your request must be denied, For your darling to my heart she is bound; And further I can say that this is our wedding day, In spite of all the heroes in town."

Then Fuller in the pa.s.sion of his love and anger bound,-- Alas! it caused many to cry,-- At one fatal shot killed Warren on the spot, And smilingly said, "I'm ready now to die."

The time was drawing nigh when Fuller had to die; He bid the audience adieu.

Like an angel he did stand, for he was a handsome man, On his breast he had a ribbon of blue.

Ten thousand spectators did smite him on the breast, And the guards dropped a tear from the eye, Saying, "Cursed be she who caused this misery, Would to G.o.d in his stead she had to die."

The gentle G.o.d of Love looked with anger from above And the rope flew asunder like the sand.

Two doctors for the pay they murdered him, they say, They hung him by main strength of hand.

But the corpse it was buried and the doctors lost their prey, Oh, that harlot was bribed, I do believe; Bad women to a certainty are the downfall of men, As Adam was beguiled by Eve.

Fuller and Warren (Mus. Not.)

Ye sons of Co-lum-bia, your at-ten-tion I do crave, While a sor-ri-ful sto-ry I do tell, Which hap-pened of late in the In-di-an-a state, And a he-ro ... not ma-ny could ex-cel.

Like Sam-son he court-ed, made choice of the fair, And in-tend-ed ... to make her his wife; But she, like De-li-la,... his heart did en-snare, Which cost him his hon-or and his life.

THE TRAIL TO MEXICO

I made up my mind to change my way And quit my crowd that was so gay, To leave my native home for a while And to travel west for many a mile.

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

'Twas all in the merry month of May When I started for Texas far away, I left my darling girl behind,-- She said her heart was only mine.

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

Oh, it was when I embraced her in my arms I thought she had ten thousand charms; Her caresses were soft, her kisses were sweet, Saying, "We will get married next time we meet."

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

It was in the year of eighty-three That A.J. Stinson hired me.

He says, "Young fellow, I want you to go And drive this herd to Mexico."

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

The first horse they gave me was an old black With two big set-fasts on his back; I padded him with gunny-sacks and my bedding all; He went up, then down, and I got a fall.

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

The next they gave me was an old gray, I'll remember him till my dying day.

And if I had to swear to the fact, I believe he was worse off than the black.

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

Oh, it was early in the year When I went on trail to drive the steer.

I stood my guard through sleet and snow While on the trail to Mexico.

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

Oh, it was a long and lonesome go As our herd rolled on to Mexico; With laughter light and the cowboy's song To Mexico we rolled along.

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

When I arrived in Mexico I wanted to see my love but could not go; So I wrote a letter, a letter to my dear, But not a word from her could I hear.

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

When I arrived at the once loved home I called for the darling of my own; They said she had married a richer life, Therefore, wild cowboy, seek another wife.

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

Oh, the girl she is married I do adore, And I cannot stay at home any more; I'll cut my way to a foreign land Or I'll go back west to my cowboy band.

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

I'll go back to the Western land, I'll hunt up my old cowboy band,-- Where the girls are few and the boys are true And a false-hearted love I never knew.

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

"O Buddie, O Buddie, please stay at home, Don't be forever on the roam.

There is many a girl more true than I, So pray don't go where the bullets fly."

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

"It's curse your gold and your silver too, G.o.d pity a girl that won't prove true; I'll travel West where the bullets fly, I'll stay on the trail till the day I die."

Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.

THE HORSE WRANGLER

I thought one spring just for fun I'd see how cow-punching was done, And when the round-ups had begun I tackled the cattle-king.

Says he, "My foreman is in town, He's at the plaza, and his name is Brown, If you'll see him, he'll take you down."