Music

1

Git Along, Little Dogies

As I was out walking one mornin' for pleasure
I saw a young cowboy just riding along
His hat was throwed back and his spurs were a jingling
And as he approached he was singing this song
Yippy ti yi yei git along little dogies
It's your misfortune and none of my own
Yippy ti yi yei git along little dogies
You know that Wyoming will be your new home

I've rode for the Spanish and the old Double Diamond
For the Seven Bar Seven and the big 44
Now I'm on my way up to Cheyenne Wyoming
And I won't ever go back to Texas no more

Yippy ti yi yei git along little dogies...

The meanest old bronc that I ever laid eyes on
Was in the ramuda on the Circle T spread
He could buck he could pitch he could toss a good cowboy
Right out of the saddle and right on to his head

Yippy ti yi yei git along little dogies...

2

Cowboy Logic

There's a great American hero we all look up to
When the times are hard and chips are down he knows just what to do
Now a cowboy's got a set of rules that he lives by day to day
And if you ask for his advice he'll more than likely say

If it's a fence mend it if it's a dollar bill spend it
Before it burns a hole down in them jeans
If it's a load truck it if it's a punch duck it
If she's a lady treat her like a queen

That's cowboy logic and every cowboy's got it
It's in the way he lives his life and the songs he sings
That's cowboy logic and every cowboy's got it
He's got a simple solution for just about anything

If it's a job do it put your back into it
Cause a little bit of dirt's gonna wash off in the rain
If it's a horse ride it if it hurts hide it
Dust yourself off and get back on again

That's cowboy logic and every cowboy's got it...

An old cowboy and a young buckaroo were working ridin' fence
The old hand was testin' the kid on his skills and his common sense
He said son if you see three men in a pickup dressed alike from boots to hat
Could you tell which one was the real cowboy just from where he sat

Well the kid scratched his head a while and then he said
Well there just ain't no way to know
The old hand grinned and then he said kid you still got a ways to go
Now the real cowboy's the one in the middle and he ain't there just by fate
Cause first he don't have to drive and then he don't have to open no gate

That's cowboy logic and every cowboy's got it...
He's got a simple solution for just about anything

3

I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)

I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande
And I sing the songs in the cowboy band
I know all the songs that the cowboys know
About the big corral where the dogies go
I learned 'em all on the radio
Yipee-yi-o-kie-yay yipee-yi-o-kie yay

I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande
And I play the fiddle in the cowboy band
Here I go
[ fiddle ]
He's an old cowhand from the Rio Grande
He calls the dance in the cowboy band
Dosie-do all around your pard
Swing that gal till she gits tarred
Allemande left in your own backyard
Yipee-yi-o-kie-yay yipee-yi-o-kie yay

He's an old cowhand from the Rio Grande
And he plays the drums in the cowboy band
Bang 'em son
[ drums ]
Yipee-yi-o-kie-yay yipee-yi-o-kie yay

Now it's your turn to play with a cowboy band
Grab your kazoo clap your hands
Sing along do this honky here you go now

You're an old cowhand from the Rio Grande
It's your turn to play with a cowboy band
Hear it buddy
[ guitar ]
Yipee-yi-o-kie-yay yipee-yi-o-kie yay

That was great that was very good
Now gimme that bass
[ bass ]
And some guitar
[ guitar ]
Mr Piano man
[ piano ]
My turn to the fiddle here I come
[ fiddle ]
I said yipee-yi-o-kie-yay yipee-yi-o-kie yay
Yipee-yi-o-kie-yay yipee-yi-o-kie yay

4

Old Chisholm Trail

Oh come along boys and listen to my tale
I'll tell you about my troubles on the old Chis'm Trail
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

On a ten dollar horse and a forty dollar saddle
Ridin' and a punchin' them Texas cattle
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

We left old Texas October twenty-third
Drivin' up the trail with a 2 U herd
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

There's mud in the gully and dust in the draw
The bossman's meaner than my mother-in-law
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

Got a hole in my hat where the rain runs in
Got a hole in my boot where it runs out again
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

Well the water's gettin' scarce and we're runnin' out of light
Looks like we're gonna have to drive 'em all night
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

Spent two days lookin' for muley-headed calf
Ain't been to sleep in a week and a half
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

I woke up one morning on the old Chis'm Trail
With a rope in my hand and a cow by the tail
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay
[ fiddle ]
Well it's bacon and beans most every day
I'd as soon be eatin' that prairie hay
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

Well the days are hot and the nights are cold
This cowboy life is gettin' mighty old
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

I reckon I'm as crazy as a Catahoula pup
I've tried and I've tried but I can't give it up
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

Well I went to the boss to draw my roll
He figgered me out nine dollars in the hole
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay

Well there ain't no leavin' so I guess I'm gonna stay
I'll be punchin' them cattle for the rest of my days
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay
Come a ti yi yippy yay yippy yay come a ti yi yippy yippy yay
Ti yi yippy yippy yay

5

Sixteen Tons

Some people say a man's made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood skin and bone
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons what do you get
Another day older and deeper and debt
St Peter don't you call me I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
Grabbed up a shovel and I went to the mine
I loaded sicteen tons of No 9 coal
And the storeboss said well bless my soul

You load sixteen tons what do you get...

I was born one mornin' and it was drizzlin' rain
Figtin' and trouble was my middle name
I was risin' the cane raiped by that ol' mom of mine
Ain't no hightoned mama makes me walk the line

You load sixteen tons what do you get...
[ guitar ]
Well if you see me comin' better step aside
A lotta men didn't and a lotta men died
One fist is iron the other one's steel
If the right one don't get you then the left one will

You load sixteen tons what do you get...

6

Back in the Saddle Again

I'm back in the saddle again out where a friend is a friend
Where the longhorn cattle feed on the lowly jimson weed
I'm back in the saddle again

I'm ridin' the range once more I'm totin' my old forty-four
Where you sleep out every night and the only law is right
I'm back in the saddle again

Whoopie ti yi yo I'm rocking to and fro I'm back in the saddle again
Whoopie ti yi yay I'm on my own way and I'm back in the saddle again
[ guitar ]
Whoopie ti yi yo I'm rocking to and fro...
I'm back in the saddle again

7

John Henry

Spoken intro:

Not all the heroes in the old West herded cattle. Some of them helped lay the silver rails across this vast land. They were hard-working men who worked from sunup 'til sundown driving spikes and laying railroad track. Let me tell ya about one of 'em.

John Henry was born on a cold, cloudy day
When the sun refused to shine
The very first sound John Henry ever heard
Was a mail train rattling down the line
(yes it was)
A mail train rattling down the line

When John Henry was a little baby boy
No bigger than the palm of your hand
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
And said Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man
(yes he is)
Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man
Johnny gonna be a steel-driving man

John Henry, he said to the captian
I was born to be a steel-driving man
I swing a nine-pound hammer like a bulldog swings his chain
I can drive more steel than anybody can
(try me out)
I can drive more steel than anybody can
And the captain said to John Henry
I don't know what I'd use you for
I got a steam drill coming on that southbound evening' train
I don't need no steel drivers anymore
(no I don't)
I don't need me no steel drivers anymore

8

Top Hand

The kid was tall and rangy still wet behind the ears But he could ride and he could rope way beyond his years He said daddy can I ride with you now that I'm sixteen Help you drive them dogies up the trail to Abilene His daddy was a mighty man a cowboy to the bone Trail boss for the J-Bar Z out east of San Antone He said boy don't get impatient now you've got a lot to learn You'll get your chance to be top hand but you'll have to wait your turn Cause the trail goes on forever and the days get mighty long If a norther starts to blowin' it can chill you to the bone And there's rivers and there's rustlers and you've got to understand It takes more than just a cowboy son you've got to be a man Against his daddy's wishes he left that very day Signed on with the Double D to drive the Chisholm Trail They were two weeks out of Texas he was ridin' drag one night When a northern started blowin' soon the herd was out of sight The snow was falling faster and the cold wind took his breath He knew the end was coming he was sure to freeze to death When out of the blinding whiteness rode a tall and mighty man He said son I was just passin' through thought you could use a hand Cause the trail goes on forever and the days get mighty long That old north wind starts blowin' it can chill you to the bone And son a top hand always has to do the very best he can And I knew you were a cowboy now I know that you're a man I knew you were a cowboy son now you've become a man

9

Saturday Night in Abeline

I been three months eatin' that trail dust and sleepin' out on the ground
In the burning sun and the cold cold moon with nothin' but stars around
But this drive is finally over we done made it to the Kansas line
I got my pay and I'm on my way this cowboy's feelin' fine

Cause tonight's the night we're gonna have some fun
The trains are loaded and the work's all done
My spurs are jinglin' my boots are clean
And it's Saturday night in Abilene Saturday night in Abilene
[ guitar ]
I'm gonna kick up both of my boot heels until my feet get sore
Them Kansas gals don't stand a chance when I'm dancin' out on the floor
Well you know we're tired of waiting until the sun goes down
There ain't no doubt you better look out the J-Bar Z's in town

Cause tonight's the night we're gonna have some fun
The trains are leaving and the work's all done
I got a little money down in my jeans
And it's Saturday night in Abilene Saturday night in Abilene
[ guitar - piano ]
It's a long way back to Texas and all of my friends are there
But I'll worry bout that on Monday right now I just don't care

Cause tonight's the night we're gonna have some fun
The trains are leaving and the work's all done
The king of the cowboys lookin' for a queen
Cause it's Saturday night in Abilene Saturday night in Abilene
Still got a little money down in my jeans and it's Saturday night in Abilene

10

Yippie Ki Yea

You're a tired little cowboy your eyes are half closed
Let's put those six guns away
You've been ridin' all day yippie ki yea

That old stick horse you're ridin' is plumb tuckered out
But he stayed with you all the way
Let's give him some hay yippie ki yea

Put your head on the pillow and dream for a while
Bout heroes and desperate men
That ornery old outlaw's done broke out of jail
But tomorrow you'll put him back in

Sweet dreams little cowboy I hope you sleep well
I've just got one thing left to say
You sure make daddy's day yippie ki yea
You sure make daddy's day yippie ki yea

By the Light of the Moon: Campfire Songs and Cowboy Tunes (1997)