Trail Drivers of Texas
University of Texas Press
Last Publication: 1923
THE GOOD OLD COWBOY DAYS
By Luther A. Lawhon
My fancy drifts as often, through the murky, misty maze Of the past —to other seasons —to the good old cowboy days, When the grass wuz green an' wavin' an' the skies wuz soft and blue, And the men were brave an' loyal, and the women fair an' true ! The old-time cowboy —here's to him, from hired hand to boss! His soul wuz free from envy and his heart wuz free from dross, An' deep within his nature, which wuz rugged, high and bold, There ran a vein uv metal, and the metal, men, wuz gold!
He'd stand up— drunk or sober—'gin a thousand fer his rights; He'd sometimes close an argument by shootin' out the lights; An' when there was a killin', by the quickest on the draw, He wern't disposed to quibble 'bout the majesty uv law; But a thief —a low-down villain —why, he had no use for him An' wuz mighty apt to leave 'im danglin' from a handy limb. He wuz heeled and allers ready—quick with pistol or with knife, But he never shirked a danger or a duty in his life!
"An' at a tale uv sorrow or uv innocence beguiled His heart wuz just as tender as the heart uv any child. "An' woman— aye, her honor wuz a sacred thing; an' hence He threw his arms around her— in a figurative sense. His home wuz yours, where'er it wuz, an' open stood the door, Whose hinges never closed upon the needy or the poor; An, high or low —it mattered not— the time, if night or day. The stranger found a welcome just as long as he would stay.
Wuz honest to the marrow, and his bond wuz in his word.He paid for every critter that he cut into his herd; An' take your note because he loaned a friend a little pelf 7 No,sir, indeed! He thought you wuz as worthy as himself. An' when you came and paid it back,as proper wuz an' meet, You trod upon forbidden ground to ask for a receipt. In former case you paid the debt(there weren't no intres' due), "An' in the latter —chances wuz he'd put a hole through you!
The old-time cowboy had 'is faults; 'tis true, as has been said, He'd look upon the licker when the licker, men, wuz red; His language weren't allers spoke accordin' to the rule;Ner wuz it sech as ye'd expect to hear at Sunday school. But when he went to meetin', men, he didn't yawn or doze, Or set there takin' notice of the congregation's clothes. He listened to the preacher with respect, an' all o' that, An' he never failed to ante when they passed aroun" the hat!
I call to mind the tournament, an' then the ball at night;Of how old Porter drawed the bow an' sawed with all his might; Of how they'd dance— the boys an' girls ; an' how that one wuz there With rosy cheeks, an' hazel eyes, an' golden, curly hair; An' I —but here I'm techin' on a mighty tender spot; That boyhood love, at this late day, had better be forgot; But still at times my heart goes back agin' and fondly strays Amidst those dear remembered scenes the good old cowboy days!
The old-time cowboy wuz a man all over! Hear me, men! I somehow kinder figger we'll not see his like agin. The few that's left are older now ; their hair is mostly white; Their forms are not so active, and their eyes are not so bright As when the grass wuz wavin' green, the skies wuz soft an' blue, An' men were brave, an' loyal, and the women fair and true, An' the land wuz filled with plenty, an' the range wuz free to graze, An' all rode as brothers— in the good old cowboy days!
Provided by Joan #46481386
University of Texas Press
Last Publication: 1923
THE GOOD OLD COWBOY DAYS
By Luther A. Lawhon
My fancy drifts as often, through the murky, misty maze Of the past —to other seasons —to the good old cowboy days, When the grass wuz green an' wavin' an' the skies wuz soft and blue, And the men were brave an' loyal, and the women fair an' true ! The old-time cowboy —here's to him, from hired hand to boss! His soul wuz free from envy and his heart wuz free from dross, An' deep within his nature, which wuz rugged, high and bold, There ran a vein uv metal, and the metal, men, wuz gold!
He'd stand up— drunk or sober—'gin a thousand fer his rights; He'd sometimes close an argument by shootin' out the lights; An' when there was a killin', by the quickest on the draw, He wern't disposed to quibble 'bout the majesty uv law; But a thief —a low-down villain —why, he had no use for him An' wuz mighty apt to leave 'im danglin' from a handy limb. He wuz heeled and allers ready—quick with pistol or with knife, But he never shirked a danger or a duty in his life!
"An' at a tale uv sorrow or uv innocence beguiled His heart wuz just as tender as the heart uv any child. "An' woman— aye, her honor wuz a sacred thing; an' hence He threw his arms around her— in a figurative sense. His home wuz yours, where'er it wuz, an' open stood the door, Whose hinges never closed upon the needy or the poor; An, high or low —it mattered not— the time, if night or day. The stranger found a welcome just as long as he would stay.
Wuz honest to the marrow, and his bond wuz in his word.He paid for every critter that he cut into his herd; An' take your note because he loaned a friend a little pelf 7 No,sir, indeed! He thought you wuz as worthy as himself. An' when you came and paid it back,as proper wuz an' meet, You trod upon forbidden ground to ask for a receipt. In former case you paid the debt(there weren't no intres' due), "An' in the latter —chances wuz he'd put a hole through you!
The old-time cowboy had 'is faults; 'tis true, as has been said, He'd look upon the licker when the licker, men, wuz red; His language weren't allers spoke accordin' to the rule;Ner wuz it sech as ye'd expect to hear at Sunday school. But when he went to meetin', men, he didn't yawn or doze, Or set there takin' notice of the congregation's clothes. He listened to the preacher with respect, an' all o' that, An' he never failed to ante when they passed aroun" the hat!
I call to mind the tournament, an' then the ball at night;Of how old Porter drawed the bow an' sawed with all his might; Of how they'd dance— the boys an' girls ; an' how that one wuz there With rosy cheeks, an' hazel eyes, an' golden, curly hair; An' I —but here I'm techin' on a mighty tender spot; That boyhood love, at this late day, had better be forgot; But still at times my heart goes back agin' and fondly strays Amidst those dear remembered scenes the good old cowboy days!
The old-time cowboy wuz a man all over! Hear me, men! I somehow kinder figger we'll not see his like agin. The few that's left are older now ; their hair is mostly white; Their forms are not so active, and their eyes are not so bright As when the grass wuz wavin' green, the skies wuz soft an' blue, An' men were brave, an' loyal, and the women fair and true, An' the land wuz filled with plenty, an' the range wuz free to graze, An' all rode as brothers— in the good old cowboy days!
Provided by Joan #46481386
Trail Drivers of Texas
University of Texas Press
Last Publication: 1923
THE GOOD OLD COWBOY DAYS
By Luther A. Lawhon
My fancy drifts as often, through the murky, misty maze Of the past —to other seasons —to the good old cowboy days, When the grass wuz green an' wavin' an' the skies wuz soft and blue, And the men were brave an' loyal, and the women fair an' true ! The old-time cowboy —here's to him, from hired hand to boss! His soul wuz free from envy and his heart wuz free from dross, An' deep within his nature, which wuz rugged, high and bold, There ran a vein uv metal, and the metal, men, wuz gold!
He'd stand up— drunk or sober—'gin a thousand fer his rights; He'd sometimes close an argument by shootin' out the lights; An' when there was a killin', by the quickest on the draw, He wern't disposed to quibble 'bout the majesty uv law; But a thief —a low-down villain —why, he had no use for him An' wuz mighty apt to leave 'im danglin' from a handy limb. He wuz heeled and allers ready—quick with pistol or with knife, But he never shirked a danger or a duty in his life!
"An' at a tale uv sorrow or uv innocence beguiled His heart wuz just as tender as the heart uv any child. "An' woman— aye, her honor wuz a sacred thing; an' hence He threw his arms around her— in a figurative sense. His home wuz yours, where'er it wuz, an' open stood the door, Whose hinges never closed upon the needy or the poor; An, high or low —it mattered not— the time, if night or day. The stranger found a welcome just as long as he would stay.
Wuz honest to the marrow, and his bond wuz in his word.He paid for every critter that he cut into his herd; An' take your note because he loaned a friend a little pelf 7 No,sir, indeed! He thought you wuz as worthy as himself. An' when you came and paid it back,as proper wuz an' meet, You trod upon forbidden ground to ask for a receipt. In former case you paid the debt(there weren't no intres' due), "An' in the latter —chances wuz he'd put a hole through you!
The old-time cowboy had 'is faults; 'tis true, as has been said, He'd look upon the licker when the licker, men, wuz red; His language weren't allers spoke accordin' to the rule;Ner wuz it sech as ye'd expect to hear at Sunday school. But when he went to meetin', men, he didn't yawn or doze, Or set there takin' notice of the congregation's clothes. He listened to the preacher with respect, an' all o' that, An' he never failed to ante when they passed aroun" the hat!
I call to mind the tournament, an' then the ball at night;Of how old Porter drawed the bow an' sawed with all his might; Of how they'd dance— the boys an' girls ; an' how that one wuz there With rosy cheeks, an' hazel eyes, an' golden, curly hair; An' I —but here I'm techin' on a mighty tender spot; That boyhood love, at this late day, had better be forgot; But still at times my heart goes back agin' and fondly strays Amidst those dear remembered scenes the good old cowboy days!
The old-time cowboy wuz a man all over! Hear me, men! I somehow kinder figger we'll not see his like agin. The few that's left are older now ; their hair is mostly white; Their forms are not so active, and their eyes are not so bright As when the grass wuz wavin' green, the skies wuz soft an' blue, An' men were brave, an' loyal, and the women fair and true, An' the land wuz filled with plenty, an' the range wuz free to graze, An' all rode as brothers— in the good old cowboy days!
Provided by Joan #46481386
University of Texas Press
Last Publication: 1923
THE GOOD OLD COWBOY DAYS
By Luther A. Lawhon
My fancy drifts as often, through the murky, misty maze Of the past —to other seasons —to the good old cowboy days, When the grass wuz green an' wavin' an' the skies wuz soft and blue, And the men were brave an' loyal, and the women fair an' true ! The old-time cowboy —here's to him, from hired hand to boss! His soul wuz free from envy and his heart wuz free from dross, An' deep within his nature, which wuz rugged, high and bold, There ran a vein uv metal, and the metal, men, wuz gold!
He'd stand up— drunk or sober—'gin a thousand fer his rights; He'd sometimes close an argument by shootin' out the lights; An' when there was a killin', by the quickest on the draw, He wern't disposed to quibble 'bout the majesty uv law; But a thief —a low-down villain —why, he had no use for him An' wuz mighty apt to leave 'im danglin' from a handy limb. He wuz heeled and allers ready—quick with pistol or with knife, But he never shirked a danger or a duty in his life!
"An' at a tale uv sorrow or uv innocence beguiled His heart wuz just as tender as the heart uv any child. "An' woman— aye, her honor wuz a sacred thing; an' hence He threw his arms around her— in a figurative sense. His home wuz yours, where'er it wuz, an' open stood the door, Whose hinges never closed upon the needy or the poor; An, high or low —it mattered not— the time, if night or day. The stranger found a welcome just as long as he would stay.
Wuz honest to the marrow, and his bond wuz in his word.He paid for every critter that he cut into his herd; An' take your note because he loaned a friend a little pelf 7 No,sir, indeed! He thought you wuz as worthy as himself. An' when you came and paid it back,as proper wuz an' meet, You trod upon forbidden ground to ask for a receipt. In former case you paid the debt(there weren't no intres' due), "An' in the latter —chances wuz he'd put a hole through you!
The old-time cowboy had 'is faults; 'tis true, as has been said, He'd look upon the licker when the licker, men, wuz red; His language weren't allers spoke accordin' to the rule;Ner wuz it sech as ye'd expect to hear at Sunday school. But when he went to meetin', men, he didn't yawn or doze, Or set there takin' notice of the congregation's clothes. He listened to the preacher with respect, an' all o' that, An' he never failed to ante when they passed aroun" the hat!
I call to mind the tournament, an' then the ball at night;Of how old Porter drawed the bow an' sawed with all his might; Of how they'd dance— the boys an' girls ; an' how that one wuz there With rosy cheeks, an' hazel eyes, an' golden, curly hair; An' I —but here I'm techin' on a mighty tender spot; That boyhood love, at this late day, had better be forgot; But still at times my heart goes back agin' and fondly strays Amidst those dear remembered scenes the good old cowboy days!
The old-time cowboy wuz a man all over! Hear me, men! I somehow kinder figger we'll not see his like agin. The few that's left are older now ; their hair is mostly white; Their forms are not so active, and their eyes are not so bright As when the grass wuz wavin' green, the skies wuz soft an' blue, An' men were brave, an' loyal, and the women fair and true, An' the land wuz filled with plenty, an' the range wuz free to graze, An' all rode as brothers— in the good old cowboy days!
Provided by Joan #46481386
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