Harry Stephens, an American cowboy, wrote this song circa 1890, while he was herding wild horses in Canada. While the rest slept, one or two unlucky cowboys always had to stand guard overnight. Called the “night hawk”, this job was one of the worst a cowboy could draw, and they believed the sound of music … Continue reading THE NIGHT HERDING SONG, A Cowboy Tune
Traditional Cowboy Tunes
JACK O’ DIAMONDS: A Cowboy Tune
A popular ditty with cowboys, this old tune has borrowed from both Irish and American traditions. If some of it sounds familiar, the line “Her parents don't like me, they say I'm too poor” was borrowed by Peter, Paul & Mary for “Pretty Mary”; the lines “I'll eats when I'm hungry” and “them that don't … Continue reading JACK O’ DIAMONDS: A Cowboy Tune
THE COWBOY’S DREAM: A Cowboy Tune
A common theme in cowboy songs is the hope of heaven. This particular song is sung to a Scottish air virtually everyone is familiar with: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean. A very early (1935) and abbreviated recording of the song by The Sons of the Pioneers features Roy Rogers on vocals and yodel. It … Continue reading THE COWBOY’S DREAM: A Cowboy Tune
THE COLORADO TRAIL: A Cowboy Tune
Here's a wonderful cowboy song with one of most popular themes, the girl he left behind. There are several versions out there, some with more or different verses, but my favorite is this short and sweet one by the Norman Luboff Choir. You can listen to it here. THE COLORADO TRAIL Eyes like the morning … Continue reading THE COLORADO TRAIL: A Cowboy Tune
RED RIVER VALLEY: A Cowboy Tune
This is a song whose roots are clouded by history, though two schools of thought prevail. The first is that it originated in upstate New York as "The Bright Mohawk Valley", and moved West with the pioneers. The second is that it originated in the Red River Valley of Canada and moved south from there. … Continue reading RED RIVER VALLEY: A Cowboy Tune
THE OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL: A Cowboy Tune
Tying in with this week’s Western Trivia, I hereby present THE OLD CHISOLM TRAIL. It was usually sung with the refrain after every verse, but usually recorded with the refrain after every 2 or 3 verses. A version by the inimitable Randy Travis is right here. And it includes a few verses I've never heard … Continue reading THE OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL: A Cowboy Tune
WHOOPI-TI-YI-YO: A Cowboy Tune
This is another one of those cowboy songs I learned very early on: I can’t begin to tell you how many verses I’ve heard to it. I’m including only the ones that are most popular, the ones I’ve heard recorded by more than one source. A "dogie", of course, is a cow. WHOOPI-TI-YI-YO As I … Continue reading WHOOPI-TI-YI-YO: A Cowboy Tune
JOHNNY, I HARDLY KNEW YE: An Irish Song
Today's song is an Irish ditty that was borrowed by America during the Civil War. I'm posting both versions here, starting with the American one. The Johnny referred to was Johnny Reb. The original Irish version follows. It's traditionally sung with a pause before the last line of both the verses and refrain. It is, … Continue reading JOHNNY, I HARDLY KNEW YE: An Irish Song
I RIDE AN OLD PAINT: A Cowboy Tune
This is one of the first cowboy songs I ever learned. It’s simple and it’s sung quite slowly, making it an ideal introduction to Old West music, particularly for children. I Ride an Old Paint I ride an old paint, I lead an old Dan, I'm goin' to Montan' for to throw the hoolihan. They … Continue reading I RIDE AN OLD PAINT: A Cowboy Tune
THE STREETS OF LAREDO: A Cowboy Tune
This is the sad story of a cowboy who's gone wrong and is going to his grave, and the companions who still bear him in their hearts. The melody is from an old Irish song, The Unfortunate Rake (which, by the way, was also the inspiration for that New Orleans Blues standard, St James Infirmary.) … Continue reading THE STREETS OF LAREDO: A Cowboy Tune
Gifford MacShane, Author 