FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

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First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

First Roundup

Come gather around, all you cowhands; I'll tell you the tale of a squall, All about the very first roundup By the very first cowboy of all. They called this here ol' waddie Shorty, Though his real name was Noah or Pop; This honest old pard found times were hard, Though he'd dealt all his cards from the top.

cowhand, roundup, chaos

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

The Boston Horse Trader

Harry's a horseman who comes from back east; There's nothing that he doesn't know 'bout the beast- Or that's what he's certain to tell you, at least, That mighty horse trader from Boston.

breed, trader, knowledge

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

The Taming of Wild Cat Willie

Sure you've heard of Wild Cat Willie, The worst, meanest hombre of all! That notorious gun-slinging outlaw Who carried a whole arsenal!

drunk, gunslinger, whiskey

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

At the Dance

I's feelin' right lonesome, so I rode into town, Just like some dang stranger a-lookin' around. I heard music playin'; it looked like a dance, So I tethered ol' Lightnin'; sez, "I'll take a chance." Then I was right happy I hadn't no pals, For the place was plumb filled up with good lookin' gals!

dance, partner, girls, beauty

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

The Really Rich Rancher and Me

Last weekend I met a rich man- owns a million head or more: Angus and Brangus - and horses: Arabians by the score. An O-lympic pool and six bathrooms, ten thousand square feet of space - And that is for only hom and his wife and the maid that helps keep up the place.

car, model, money

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

Tom's Truck

With my horse on the fritz, and me needin' a Schlitz, I borried my brother-'n-law's truck. I went on a bender and dented a fender- now ain't that a cow puncher's luck? My pal Dick and me, we just wet on a spree which lasted til three in the mornin'; Don't know about Dick, but I's feelin' right sick, when up comes this tree without warnin'!

truck, accident, anger

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

My Buddy

I've had a good buddy since high school, We've pardnered through tough, thick, and thin; And whenever I got into trouble, I knew that my buddy'd jump in.

love, girlfriend, memory, drunk

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

These Boots Ain't Made for Walkin'!

Say, these boots are made for walkin'? Now, that's plumb foolish takin'! Let's just trace that idle rumor to its source. Any guy whose twelve or older, With a saddle on his shoulder, Will tell you straight, he's lookin' for a horse!

boots, ride, stirrup, walk

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

My Vanishing Boots and Hats

These boots are from Sears and Roebuck. This hat's from Montgomery Wards. My beavers and leathers all vanished together- My stuff has just went by the boards!

clothing, boots, hat

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

Cowboy Goes A-Courtin'

My daddy died in '75. Mom's been mighty lonesome since then; But she's told me many and many a time, "I'll never get married again!

age, death, rancher, date

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

The Passing of a Cowboy

Slim and Stumpy had been good partners since the days when names were shortened 'Cause questions weren't always healthy to ask, and it wasn't considered important.

death, memory, horse, ad

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

The Secret

I headed out west at barely fifteen, and somehow I got hired on To a cattle outfit; I's so proud I could spit To be helpin' the cook before dawn.

dream, cook, tea, immigrant

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

The Blind Cowboy

My days in the saddle are over, and I know that my cowboying is done; But I still feel the space; winter wind on my face, warm spring rains, and the hot summer sun. This big silver buckle means champion calf roper for some by-gone year, And my fingers can trace an old trophy's "First Place"- Team tying some rangy old steer.

blind, age, experience, memory, trophy

First Roundup: Western Ballads

FOLK COLL 11 J-25

Dee Strickland Johnson

End of the Day

Well, I see that the sun is setting, and quite soon the day will be gone,But it doesn't much disturb me, 'cause there'll sure be another dawn.

change, night, sun, season

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunlap

The Bovine Baccalaureate

There are some critters whose brains are quite small. And some poor varmints have no brains at all. But if pure lack of intellect could ever be found, I'm sure Ol' Bossie would win, hands down.

mother, cow, calf, sense

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunlap

The Rancher's Rodeo

The sign said Rancher's Rodeo, come one, come all to see. Bring the wife and the kids along, and the entries all are free. No standard events were scheduled, no bucking horses to ride. Just plain, everyday, hardworking folks, doing what they do with pride.

rodeo, chores, cheap

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunlap

The Most Distasteful Chore

There are some jobs on the farm and the ranch, that just aren't much pleasure to do. Like cleaning out stables and putting up hay, just to name a few. But one task stands out among the rest, as the farm's most distasteful chore. And that's losing part of your livelihood to the earth forevermore.

chore, death, drown, calving

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunlap

The Deal

We've all seen cattle standing, In the water up to their ribs. Cooling themselves on a hot summer day. But did you ever notice this?

cow, fish, flies, water, deal

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunalp

Doubt if He's Ever

The fall of the year, it's round-up time. And we send those calves on down the line. Your labor of love finally bears fruit, And with bills to pay it's none too soon.

doubt, simple, difficult, cattle raising

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunalp

Cattlemen's Anonymous

The old man's hands were trembling; his cheeks were running tears. He said, "I've been raising cattle now, for nigh on forty years." "It's okay partner, you're among friends, you'll get nothing but sympathy from us." So began another meeting of the Cattlemen's Anonymous.

addiction, cattle, work

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunalp

Little Guys

We don't have twenty hired hands Gathering strays from all the breaks. Just me and my horse and a few closed gates, Are usually all it takes.

small, farm, herd, dream

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunalp

The Mindreaders

Every year the old Charolais cow gives birth to a fine-looking calf. Sometimes it's a bull, sometimes it's a heifer; it averages about half and half. And when the calf is of the male gender a certain task must be done. Despite the fact that this old girl is mighty protective of her young.

trick, clever, cow, calf

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunalp

That Ain't My Cow

My partner in the cattle business and I Were cutting and sorting one day. When he notices this poor old gaunt looking cow, Limping along and making her way.

criticism, mangy, heifer

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunalp

Soil Samples

A friend from Southeast Missouri, Who farms the Bootheel's rich, black loam, Came by to visit last summer, And see our new farm and home.

soil, rock, sample, identify

Waiting for the Pear to Fall

FOLK COLL 11 D-29

Richard M Dunalp

Waiting For The Pear To Fall

Like a silent sentinel on a lonely hill, The gnarled old pear tree stood. Having endured the test of wind and time, Its fruit was true and good. And on any given night a fair-sized number of pears will fall. Till the grazing herd makes their rounds next day And consumes them one and all.

gravity, pear, fall, patience, trust