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Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads

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NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM (p. 413) My country, 'tis of thee, Land where things used to be So cheap, we croak. Land of the mavericks, Land of the puncher's tricks, Thy culture-inroad pricks The hide of this peeler-bloke. Some of the punchers swear That what they eat and wear Takes all their calves. Others vow that they Eat only once a day Jerked beef and prairie hay Washed down with tallow salves. These salty-dogs[14] but crave To pull them out the grave Just one Kiowa spur. They know they still will dine On flesh and beef the time; But give us, Lord divine, One "hen-fruit stir."[15] Our father's land, with thee, (p. 414) Best trails of liberty, We chose to stop. We don't exactly like So soon to henceward hike, But hell, we'll take the pike If this don't stop. <hr class="small"> Footnote 1: In this song, as in several others, the chorus should come in after each stanza. The arrangement followed has been adopted to illustrate versions current in different sections.(Back) Footnote 2: Sung to the air of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.(Back) Footnote 3: Attributed to James Barton Adams.(Back) Footnote 4: Printed as a fugitive ballad in Grandon of Sierra, by Charles E. Winter.(Back) Footnote 5: A song current in Arizona, probably written by Berton Braley. Cowboys and miners often take verses that please them and fit them to music.(Back) Footnote 6: These verses are used in many parts of the West as a dance song. Sung to waltz music the song takes the place of "Home, Sweet Home" at the conclusion of a cowboy ball. The "fiddle" is silenced and the entire company sing as they dance.(Back) Footnote 7: A lumber jack song adopted by the cowboys.(Back) Footnote 8: This poem, one of the best in Larry Chittenden's Ranch Verses, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, has been set to music by the cowboys and its phraseology slightly changed, as this copy will show, by oral transmission. I have heard it in New Mexico and it has been sent to me from various places,—always as a song. None of those who sent in the song knew that it was already in print.(Back) Footnote 9: "set" means settler.(Back) Footnote 10: snake, bad steer.(Back) Footnote 11: Dolly welter, rope tied all around the saddle.(Back) Footnote 12: rim-fire saddle, without flank girth.(Back) Footnote 13: To tune of Pop Goes the Weasel.(Back) Footnote 14: Cowboy Dude.(Back) Footnote 15: Pancake.(Back) <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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