FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

59

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Benny Benito

Who found him encountered a rugged decline.

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

61

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Boomer Johnson

Now Mr. Boomer Johnson was a getting' old in spots.

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

64

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Walkin' John

Walkin' John was a big rope-hoss, from over Morongo way.

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

67

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Joe Biddle

Old Joe Biddle, a mining man, when his earthly days were past.

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

70

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Bill Tandy

Bill Tandy, ridin' Hell's Delight, come foggin' into town one night.

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

73

Henry Herbert Knibbs

The Bosky Steer

Jake and Roany was a-chousin' along, And Jake was a-singin' what he called a son.

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

75

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Mournful Joe

One mornin' early when the ground was froze, Old Mournful Joe from his tarp arose.

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

77

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Tonga Bill

Evening star was the schooner's name, Piled up on the Tonga reef, sir.

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

79

Henry Herbert Knibbs

If a Horse Could Talk

I wonder, now, what my pony things, When I slip his bit and he snuffs and drinks.

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

81

Henry Herbert Knibbs

The Bigelow Boys

Billy and Ed and Joe were raised when the West was new.

Songs of the Lost Frontier

FC 11 K-06

84

Henry Herbert Knibbs

That was Maw

Her name was Martha Bailey, she was smilin', plump, and strong.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

3

Henry Herbert Knibbs

The Walking Man

Sunny summer day it was when loping in to Laramie.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

7

Henry Herbert Knibbs

It was Overland the Red

"If you're askin' my opinion, well?" said Overland the Red.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

9

Henry Herbert Knibbs

The Outland Trails

My head grew gray on the outland trails where I stood a man with men.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

12

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Sunshine Over Yuma

Sun down the road where once the range, Unfenced, rolled, sweeping like the sea.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

15

Henry Herbert Knibbs

The Mule-Skinners

The clack and clatter of the chain; the staggering pull to top the crest.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

18

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Out There Somewhere

As I was hiking past the woods, the cool and sleepy summer woods.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

23

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Oliver West

Oliver West came riding down; His face was lean and keen and brown.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

25

Henry Herbert Knibbs

The Hills

Shall I leave the hills, the high, far hills; That shadow the morning plain?

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

26

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Overland's Delight

It was underneath the stars, the little peeking stars.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

31

Henry Herbert Knibbs

The Prospector

'T is the wane of the moon and the midsummer revels are ended.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

34

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Lady-Bird

All you care to do on earth is to make a show, Sing a song of vanity, see the people stare!

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

36

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Hash

'T was in one of them "Come in Stranger," joints, That sure does lots of good.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

39

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Gentrytown

In vain the city voices call; The outlands claim us evermore.

Songs of the Outlands: Ballads of the Hoboes and Other Verse

FC 11 K-07

41

Henry Herbert Knibbs

Along the Shore

The waves come walkin' up the sand; "Weep! Weep!" and "Hush!" along the shore.