Cowboy Songs Part 32

He met a bunch of Indian bucks led by Geronimo, And what them Indians did to him, well, sh.o.r.ely 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 Fe 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 sh.o.r.e 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 b.a.l.l.s 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 sh.o.r.e don't know.

A FRAGMENT

I am fur from my sweetheart And she is fur from me, And when I'll see my sweetheart I 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 me Whenever I come home.

I've roamed the Texas prairies, I've followed the cattle trail, I've rid a pitching pony Till 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 compare With 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 la.s.so, 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 h.e.l.l 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 s.h.i.+pping point, I'll get on a little spree To 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 say You'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' by Has 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 say Just 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 hand And 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 ball And 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 out And 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 home And never more we'll go and roam, Way down in Mexico.

RATTLESNAKE--A RANCH HAYING SONG