Cowboy Songs Part 26

My love has a gun that has gone to the bad, Which makes poor old Jimmy feel pretty d.a.m.n sad; For the gun it shoots high and the gun it shoots low, And it wobbles about like a bucking bronco.

The cook is an unfortunate son of a gun; He has to be up e'er the rise of the sun; His language is awful, his curses are deep,-- He is like cascarets, for he works while you sleep.

THE SHANTY BOY

I am a jolly shanty boy, As you will soon discover.

To all the dodges I am fly, A hustling pine woods rover.

A peavy hook it is my pride, An ax I well can handle; To fell a tree or punch a bull Get rattling Danny Randall.

Bung yer eye: bung yer eye.

I love a girl in Saginaw; She lives with her mother; I defy all Michigan To find such another.

She's tall and fat, her hair is red, Her face is plump and pretty, She's my daisy, Sunday-best-day girl,-- And her front name stands for Kitty.

Bung yer eye: bung yer eye.

I took her to a dance one night, A mossback gave the bidding; Silver Jack bossed the shebang And Big Dan played the fiddle.

We danced and drank, the livelong night.

With fights between the dancing-- Till Silver Jack cleaned out the ranch And sent the mossbacks prancing.

Bung yer eye: bung yer eye.

ROOT HOG OR DIE

When I was a young man I lived on the square, I never had any pocket change and I hardly thought it fair; So out on the crosses I went to rob and to steal, And when I met a peddler oh, how happy I did feel.

One morning, one morning, one morning in May I seen a man a-coming, a little bit far away; I seen a man a-coming, come riding up to me "Come here, come here, young fellow, I'm after you to-day."

He taken me to the new jail, he taken me to the new jail, And I had to walk right in.

There all my friends went back on me And also my kin.

I had an old rich uncle, who lived in the West, He heard of my misfortune, it wouldn't let him rest; He came to see me, he paid my bills and score,-- I have been a bad boy, I'll do so no more.

There's Minnie and Alice and Lucy likewise, They heard of my misfortune brought tears to their eyes.

I've told 'em my condition, I've told it o'er and o'er; So I've been a bad boy, I'll do so no more.

I will go to East Texas to marry me a wife, And try to maintain her the balance of my life; I'll try to maintain; I'll lay it up in store I've been a bad boy, I'll do so no more.

Young man, you robber, you had better take it fair, Leave off your marshal killing and live on the square; Should you meet the marshal, just pa.s.s him by; And travel on the muscular, for it's root hog or die.

When I drew my money I drew it all in cash And off to see my Susan, you bet I cut a dash; I spent my money freely and went it on a b.u.m, And I love the pretty women and am bound to have my fun.

I used to sport a white hat, a horse and buggy fine, Courted a pretty girl and always called her mine; But all my courts.h.i.+ps proved to be in vain, For they sent me down to Huntsville to wear the ball and chain.

Along came my true love, about twelve o'clock, Saying, "Henry, O Henry, what sentence have you got?"

The jury found me guilty, the judge would allow no stay, So they sent me down to Huntsville to wear my life away.

Root Hog or Die (Mus. Not.)

When I was a young man I lived up-on the square, I nev-er had a-ny pock-et change and I hard-ly thought it fair, But out up-on the highway I went to rob and to steal, And when I met a ped-dler, Oh, how hap-py I did feel.

SWEET BETSY FROM PIKE

"A California Immigrant Song of the Fifties"

Oh, don't you remember sweet Betsy from Pike Who crossed the big mountains with her lover Ike, And two yoke of cattle, a large yellow dog, A tall, shanghai rooster, and one spotted dog?

Saying, good-bye, Pike County, Farewell for a while; We'll come back again When we've panned out our pile.

One evening quite early they camped on the Platte, 'Twas near by the road on a green shady flat; Where Betsy, quite tired, lay down to repose, While with wonder Ike gazed on his Pike County rose.

They soon reached the desert, where Betsy gave out, And down in the sand she lay rolling about; While Ike in great terror looked on in surprise, Saying "Betsy, get up, you'll get sand in your eyes."

Saying, good-bye, Pike County, Farewell for a while; I'd go back to-night If it was but a mile.

Sweet Betsy got up in a great deal of pain And declared she'd go back to Pike County again; Then Ike heaved a sigh and they fondly embraced, And she traveled along with his arm around her waist.

The wagon tipped over with a terrible crash, And out on the prairie rolled all sorts of trash; A few little baby clothes done up with care Looked rather suspicious,--though 'twas all on the square.

The shanghai ran off and the cattle all died, The last piece of bacon that morning was fried; Poor Ike got discouraged, and Betsy got mad, The dog wagged his tail and looked wonderfully sad.

One morning they climbed up a very high hill, And with wonder looked down into old Placerville; Ike shouted and said, as he cast his eyes down, "Sweet Betsy, my darling, we've got to Hangtown."

Long Ike and sweet Betsy attended a dance, Where Ike wore a pair of his Pike County pants; Sweet Betsy was covered with ribbons and rings.

Quoth Ike, "You're an angel, but where are your wings?"

A miner said, "Betsy, will you dance with me?"

"I will that, old hoss, if you don't make too free; But don't dance me hard. Do you want to know why?

Dog on ye, I'm chock full of strong alkali."

Long Ike and sweet Betsy got married of course, But Ike getting jealous obtained a divorce; And Betsy, well satisfied, said with a shout, "Good-bye, you big lummax, I'm glad you backed out."

Saying, good-bye, dear Isaac, Farewell for a while, But come back in time To replenish my pile.