Cowboy Songs Part 30

When I had grown to manhood and evil paths I trod, I learned to scorn my fellow-man and even curse my G.o.d; And in the evil course I ran for a great length of time Till 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 alone That 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 pockets Of 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 bottom To get one sweet sup; But the ocean ain't whiskey, And I ain't a duck, So I'll play Jack o' diamonds And 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 pockets Of silver and gold.

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, Rye whiskey I cry, If you don't give me rye whiskey I'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.

Jack o' Diamonds (Mus. Not.)

O Mol-lie, O Mol-lie, It's for your sake a-lone That I leave my old pa-rents, my house and my home; That I leave my old pa-rents, you caused me to roam-- I am a rab-ble sol-dier, and Dix-ie is my home.

Repeat from first for Refrain

THE COWBOY'S MEDITATION

At midnight when the cattle are sleeping On my saddle I pillow my head, And up at the heavens lie peeping From out of my cold, gra.s.sy bed,-- Often and often I wondered At night when lying alone If every bright star up yonder Is 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 sc.r.a.p there with Comanches And other Red Men of the plains?

Are the hills covered over with cattle In those mystic worlds far, far away?

Do the ranch-houses ring with the prattle Of sweet little children at play?

At night in the bright stars up yonder Do the cowboys lie down to their rest?

Do they gaze at this old world and wonder If 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 companion While guarding the herd through the night?

Sometimes when a bright star is twinkling Like a diamond set in the sky, I find myself lying and thinking, It may be G.o.d's heaven is nigh.

I wonder if there I shall meet her, My mother whom G.o.d took away; If in the star-heavens I'll greet her At the round-up that's on the last day.

In the east the great daylight is breaking And into my saddle I spring; The cattle from sleep are awakening, The heaven-thoughts from me take wing, The eyes of my bronco are flas.h.i.+ng, Impatient he pulls at the reins, And off round the herd I go das.h.i.+ng, 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 lay In a deep and shady valley of the mighty wilderness; Half a score of homes were there, And in one a maiden fair Held the heart of Billy Venero, Billy Venero's little Bess.

So no wonder he grew pale When he heard the cowboy's tale Of the men that he'd seen murdered the day before at Rocky Run.

"Sure as there's a G.o.d 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 delayed When 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 alkali All his thoughts flew on ahead To the little band at cow-ranch thinking not of danger near; With his quirt's unceasing whirl And the jingle of his spurs Little 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 warn Ere the coming of the morn If we fail,--G.o.d help my Bessie," and he started on again.