FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

115

Ray Owens

Ben and the Bikers

Most everyone thought he was a dip or two short Of havin' a full can of snuff but nobody cared 'cause he seemd liek the sort Who'd stick around when the gon' got rough.

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

118

Ray Owens

The Bull Kitty

My daddy told a story once. He swore that it was true. If he said it was, then I guess it is; so I'll tell the tale to you. Back in the nineteen-twenties, in Oklahoma in the town Where Dad was a-workin' at the time,

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

120

Ray Owens

Fixin' to Get Excitin'

Waal, it's fixin to git excitin', boys. I'll bet my hat it is! That doggoned muley calf I roped has got things in a 'tiz! Ol' Cal, he slowly drawled those words while doin' his best to hide

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

122

Ray Owens

January Roses

Red roses mean I love you, he'd always heard 'em say That's why he'd parked his pick-up at the flower shop that day It was deep in January, and roses weren't in season But prices and the time of year

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

123

Ray Owens

Ridin' For the Brand

You could tell a storm was brewin' from the clouds off to the west While up north the sky had turned from gray to black But that pretty rainbow in the east had kinda foooled us all

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

125

Ray Owens

The Encounter

You'd best back off a mite, young man, a' give yourself some slack You've pushed me al lyou're gonna shove, 'fore I start pushin' back Now you may think that this old man is makin' idle talk

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

127

Ray Owens

Graveside Meditation

There's a grave at the end of a dim, washed-out trail In the foothills, 'bout ten miels from town. Came across it one day while out prowlin' So I pulled up my horse

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

129

Ray Owens

The Intellectual Conversation

No one knew Old Sol's real name; most claimed tey'd hnever heard Him called by any other, and he wouldn't say a word When he was asked about it, his face took on a scowl

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

131

Ray Owens

One Bygone Fourth of July

The year was 1891; July 4th was the day A train departed Eddy headin' Pecos City way Folks were feelin' kinda festive, and as the train pulled out A boy fired off a pistol,

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

132

Ray Owens

Question Answered

Billy BLedsoe was a peeler who could ride the rankest brone Like it wasn't any kind of chore a-tall He could rake 'em fore and aft with such a graceful, rhythmic style 'Peared he was waltzin'

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

134

Ray Owens

Makin' Money Backwards

John J. was in the market for a horse, or so he thought Providin' he could find one that would handle like he ought Ya see, John had been a-footback ever since the ohter day

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

136

Ray Owens

Silent Eloquence

He kissed her and then mounted up and headed down the trail He loved her but he rode away; her pleas to no avail The more he rode along and thought, the more he wondered why

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

137

Ray Owens

Why Not?

He sat there, gazin' off in space; just lost in thought, alone An' lookin' backwards on his life, thinki' how the years had lfown He sorted through the memories he'd saved up through the years

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

140

Ray Owens

When the Parson Went to Church

Never been much for church goin'; just didn't do it much, that's all! Was the greetin' that the parson got each time he'd pay a call On the cranky, gruff old-timer who lived at the edge of town

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

145

Ray Owens

Just Come on as You Are

'Twas a Sunday mornin' early; Dawn was half an hour away. While list'nin' to the radio I heard this feller say, "You're invited to the service;

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

148

Ray Owens

It Ain't Nuthin' But a Thang

There's been some trials and tribulations piled upon me in this life Times I wondered if I'd make it thru the tangled briars of strife And a lesson learned form someone else,

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

149

Ray Owens

A Better Way

Each time I attend a funeral, I get a diff'rent slant On who will go oto Heaven, and who it seems, just can't Depends on who the preacher is and his viewpoint on that day I either hear I've got it made, or I'll be turned away.

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

150

Ray Owens

A Hundred Years Ago

A hundred years ago a man lived like he wanted to No bureucrats to regulate and tell him what to do But now we're told by Washington that we cacn do and when And I , for one, wish things were like they were

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Outf

FC 11 O-10

151

Ray Owens

Christmas Time

There ain't no time like Christmas, It's that special time of year When we take a while to really think Of folks that we hold dear.

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

152

Ray Owens

When a Daddy's Feelin' Helpless

Wish I could bear some of the hurts that have come upon our boys 'Cause neither one's life lately has been plumb filled up with joys They ain't come 'round complainin', but their eyes will plainly tell That each one has some troubles;

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

153

Ray Owens

To the Class of '52

There's been fifty years of livin' since we got together last Lots of toil and play and joys are back there in our past Stored away in mem'ry closets in the storerooms of our mind

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

154

Ray Owens

Double Hitch

Getting married's pretty easy Stayin' that way's sometimes hard. So when the road gets sorta rocky That's the time to hang tough, pard.

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

155

Ray Owens

Life as it is

No one ever said that life would be fair At least no one who knew wrong from right No one ever said life was easy to live An' you could win without havin' to fight.

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

156

Ray Owens

All in a Day's Work

Just ease on down there cattle In behind that ol' lead steer There's no need to git all worked up River's runnin' quiet this year Tell the truth, that'show I like it

Cowboy Poetry: Tracks That Won't Blow Out

FC 11 O-10

158

Ray Owens

Truth in Labeling

Have you got any Christian poems? a feller asked one day. Well, I don't rightly kow, sez I, never thought of them that way. It never really crossed my mind 'til you brought it up just now