269
Cheyenne
Probably a music-hall piece originally. The song given under this
title in Cowboy Songs is a quite different affair. Under the same
title the Archive of American Folk Song lists records made in Vir-
ginia and Texas which may or may not be the same as our song.
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 623
'Cheyenne.' From the John Burch Blaylock Collection. The verse
arrangement depends presumably on the music, which Mr. Blaylock did
not record.
1 Way out in old Wyoming, long ago,
Where coyotes lurk, while night winds howl and blow,
A cowboy's husky voice rang out, 'Hello,'
And echoed through the valley down below.
Then came back a maiden's answer, sweet and clear ;
Cowboy tossed his hat up in the air.
Said he, 'I've come to take you right away from here;
Cheyenne, they say, is miles away, but they've a preacher
there.'
Then she just dropped her eyes; she was so very shy, so
shy, oh my.
And then she made reply : 'Oh ! Oh ! Oh !'
Chorus:
Shy Ann, shy Ann, hop on my pony, there's room here
for two, dear.
But after the ceremony we'll both ride back home, dear,
as one.
On my pony from old Cheyenne, Oh ! Oh ! Oh !
2 They rode that night and nearly half the day;
Cheyenne was sixty-seven miles away.
But when at last they galloped on the street
The cowboy's pride was really hard to beat,
On his arms his future bride a-carrying.
But beneath the little church's dome said she,
'I feel like turning back, not marrying.'
His face got red, and then he said,
'You will, or you'll walk home ;
If you ride back today, you'll honor and obey.'
T do, I do!' Then he was heard to say, 'Oh! Oh! Oh!'