The Cowboy Lyrics

THE COWBOY
sung by Ed McCurdy
1/ All day on the prairie in the saddle I ride
Not even a dog, boys, to trot by my side
My fire I must kindle with chips gathered ‘round
And boil my own coffee without being ground
I wash in a pool and I sleep on a sack
I carry my wardrobe on my back
2/ For want of another night I cook bread in a pot
And sleep on the ground for want of a cot
My ceiling’s the sky, my floor is the grass
My music is the lowing of herds as they pass
My books are the brooks, my sermons the stones
My parson is a wolf on his pulpit of bones
3/ And then if my cooking’s not very complete

You can’t blame me for wanting to eat
But show me a man who sleeps more profound
Than the big puncher-boy who snores on the ground
My books teach me ever consistence to prize
My sermons, that small things I should not despise
4/ My parson remarks from his pulpit of bones
That fortune favours those who look out for their own
Between me and love lies a gulf very wide
Some lucky fellow may call her his bride
My friends gently hint I am coming to grief
But men must make money and women have beef
5/ Buy why it is, I can ne’er understand
For each of the Patriarchs owned a big brand
Abraham emigrated in search of a range
When water was scarce he wanted a change
Old Isaac owned cattle in charge of Esau
And Jacob punched cows for his father-in-law
6/ He started in business way down at Bedrock
And made quite a streak at handling stock
David, from night-herding, began using a sling
And from scaring off lions became a great king
The shepherds, while herding on Bethlehem Hill
Got a message from Angels of Peace and Goodwill
7/ Real Peace and Goodwill, it’s “Peace and Goodwill”
Got a message from Angels of Peace and Goodwill
So, what keeps a herd from stampeding today,
Stampeding for miles before break of day?
It’s the Cowboy’s whistle, so sweet and so low
Plus he sings alongside ‘em, heck! .. why would they go?
Lyrics Submitted by Bob Sontrop ( .. from London, Ontario, Canada)