FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

141

Dave Stamey

Used Rough

I started chewing tobacco when I was a kid I thought it would make me look mature I'm very sad to say that's exactly what it did Cuz when your teeth fall out you look older, that's for sure

wisdom, sayings, texas, cowboy

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

144

Dave Stamey

Someone Needs To Go Back Home

Go west, go west, that's what Horace Greeley said But that was years and years ago, and now Horace Greeley's dead But the people keep on coming, and bringing all their stuff If Horace was around today, he'd say, "Hey, that's enough"

suburbs, progress, construction

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

147

Dave Stamey

Crazy Mary

When cloud shadows drift 'cross the side of the hill When the wind moves high in the pines Mary sits there by her windowsill Watching the trail for a sign

waiting, love, devotion, loyalty

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

150

Dave Stamey

Ruby Could Sing

In the Tonopah Club in Tonopah, Nevada, in 1958 Slot machines rattle in the cigarette smoke; everybody's feeling great Through the vinyl and the velvet of this neon American dream Roy would play piano and Ruby would sing, my God, how Ruby could sing

casino, singing, betting

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

153

Dave Stamey

Lack of Direction

I was giving my wife directions how to get someplace the other day. By way of illustration I waved vaguely to my left and said, "First go north five or six miles-" "Wait a minute," she said, and whirled around until she was facing due north. Which, as it turned out, wasn't the way I'd pointed. "Okay," she said, "go ahead."

directions, life, travel

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

156

Dave Stamey

Twelve Mile Road

There's an old gravel road following the section line Out where lives are held together with sweat and baling twine Where you rattle your bones on a tractor over thirty years old And there's a mortgage and kids to be fed out on Twelve Mile Road

road, travel, mine

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

159

Dave Stamey

Blackjack Was a Mule

Blackjack was a mule, worked in the Syndicate Mine Since the age of two, worked in the Syndicate Mine

mule, labor, mine

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

162

Dave Stamey

Buckskin Horse

And she always wanted a buckskin horse With a yearning burnt deep in her soul

buckskin, horse, speed

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

165

Dave Stamey

All I Need Is You

I don't need a rainbow to find my pot of gold There won't be a fairytale when our story's told When push comes to shove, it all comes down to love I don't need the stars above, all I need is you

love, fantasy, romance

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

168

Dave Stamey

Song for Jake

I am an old cowboy; I don't ride much no more I came to this valley right after the war

cowboy, memory, life

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

171

Dave Stamey

If I had Money

If I had money, I'd go into town Get dressed up and I'd go walking around And I'd look at everything that they got down there Maybe even find a barber, let him cut my hair

money, laziness, desire

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

174

Dave Stamey

Never Gonna Rain Again

I think I saw a cloud yesterday It hung around a minute, then it just blew away Another identical dusty day The only thing not telling a lie is the wind I don't believe it's ever gonna rain again

rain, cloud, longing

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

177

Dave Stamey

Sage in Her Hair

Her hair was thick and braided Her skin freckled by the sun Our eyes 'neath hat brims shaded We'd watch those wild horses run

relationship, love, mistake

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

180

Dave Stamey

Bubba and the Goat

The football helmet came from Sears The nanny goat's name was Annabelle The third element was Bubba, and Bubba was crazy as hell

goat, butting heads, stunt

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

184

Dave Stamey

Wild Sierra

I thought that I was ready to quit my running 'round Thought I'd try a home life on for size She was what I wanted, for her I'd settle down But she saw the wild sierra in my eyes

love, reality, eyes

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

186

Dave Stamey

Comfortable Shoes

The most underrated thing in the world Is comfortable shoes You can have your money and your beautiful girls Give me comfortable shoes

shoes, comfort, life

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

189

Dave Stamey

Sweet Grass County Line

Montana morning The far hills show traces of snow The day, come a-dawning Lights rimrock where junipers grow

county line, grass, country

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

191

Dave Stamey

Zodiac Hell

The excursion company was a one-man operation run out of a dull gray clapboard house in a town with too many syllables in its name that I can't remember and never could pronounce in the first place. The captain was a tall thin guy in shorts and a wool sweatshirt, sort of a combination Surfer Joe and Barnacle Bill. He wore an ace bandage around his left foot, and flip flops.

hawaii, surfing, beach

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

197

Dave Stamey

There is an Echo

There is an echo, through the morning Up the mountain and down the other side Listen close, hear it ringing Catch it in your hand before it dies

echo, river, nature

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

199

Dave Stamey

Mojave Moon

Mojave moon, you're peeking through the stars tonight I'm begging you, come on and shine your light My baby's leaving on the morning train If we don't hurry, she won't be back again

moon, desert, nature

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

201

Dave Stamey

Sunrise

Gather your horses in darkness, woodsmoke burns your eyes The chill settles around you, the moon's gone from the sky Your breath, it steams in the crackling air Waiting for starlight to fade, and sunrise

sun, warmth, color

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

203

Dave Stamey

Free and Easy

No use running around Too many people sing that tune Slow up, ease her on down You're never gonna catch the moon

relax, busy, calm

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

205

Dave Stamey

Chicken Number Eight

The chicken we call "Number Eight" showed up again this morning. It was a surprise - I actually jumped back.

chicken, mystery, vanishing

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

207

Dave Stamey

Let Me Sell You a Dream

Step up, pilgrims, let me shake your hands Come gather 'round me while I go into my dance Look at this bottle, see how it gleams Here it is, children, let me sell you a dream

clerk, dream, wonder

The First Twenty Five Years: Songs and Stories

Dave Stamey

FOLK COLL 11 S-76

210

Dave Stamey

Runaway Horse

He's got a house on the hill, got a head on his shoulders He's done real well, that's what they all say He drives a brand new truck, and folks respect him

escape, worry, regret