The Western Cowboy- Ridge (TX) 1934 Lomax
[This unusal opening stanza sung by African-American Percy Ridge was recorded by John Lomax, State Pen, Huntsville, Texas in 1934. Leadbelly sings a version of Western Cowboy without the stanzas from Child 274.]
THE WESTERN COWBOY- Spoken at the end: Now this song was sung by Percy Ridge of Fort Worth, Texas, on April the 10th, 1934. [Listen: Percy Ridge- Western Cowboy]
When I was a cowboy out on the Western plain
Made a half a million pullin' on my bridle rein.
O my wife, O my wife, won't you please listen to me,
O my wife, O my wife, won't you please listen to me,
Whose horse is that in my horse-chains where my horse used to be?
Blind fool, blind fool, you blind you cannot see,
Blind fool, blind fool, you blind you cannot see
Nothing but a milk cow your mother sent to me.
Over many miles I've travelled, like to travel a-many more,
Many miles I've travelled, like to travel a-many more,
Never seen a milk cow with a saddle on before.
Blind fool, blind fool, you blind you cannot see,
Blind fool, blind fool, you blind you cannot see,
Nothing but a milk cow your mother sent to me
O my wife, O my wife, won't you please listen to me
O my wife, O my wife, won't you please listen to me
Whose boots are that behind the door where my boot used to be?
Blind fool, blind fool, you blind you cannot see,
Blind fool, blind fool, you blind you cannot see,
Nothing but a milk churn that your mother sent to me.
Over many miles I've travelled, like to travel a-many more,
Many miles I've travelled, like to travel a-many more,
Never seen a milk churn with spurs all on the floor.
O my wife, O my wife, won't you please listen to me
O my wife, O my wife, won't you please listen to me
Whose head is that on my pillow where my head used to be?
Blind fool, blind fool, you blind you cannot see,
Blind fool, blind fool, you blind you cannot see,
Nothing but a baby your mother sent to me.