The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-29
THE ooHnoH,s SONGS.
His Favor,tes Are Sentimental ~ Pathetic.
Although There Arc Others.

An anRlysis'of !, 900 popular songs was given
in THE SuS some time ago. and II showed that
sentiment held n secure place IN the Anerl-
can heart. Tho figures were 200 serious popu-
lnr songs. against 231 comics. Cowboys
songs give evidence to the sam effect. Their
songs nrc pathetic and sentimental, or coarse
and vulgar. Very few occupy neutral ground.
II is 20 he expected that when the cowboy IL
alone IN his night watch. when His bunch VI
cattle is lcdd,d down, and he rides slowly
around n, herd grooming n song, hc is in his
best and %gcntlcst mood. and naturally his
thoughts turn oftcnest to Renaissance and pa
thos. When demornlizcd by the associations
and scenes OF town life, songs OF quite another
character seem more in touch with his mood.
To-day on the ranges Of Texas. Colorado.
Wyoming, and Montana. and NJ every round
up. when the men gather about the camp fire.
certain popular songs nrc always called for
songs that are wrinkled and bowed down by a
good old age. but are ever fresh and acceptable
to the cowboy. It is safe to say that the one
lie holds with greatest gusto is. BURY Mo Not
On Tho Lone Prairie
"Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie"
Those words cnme sad and moarnfully
From tho pallll lips of the boy who lay
on tho cold. damp ground ut the break or day.
Hc had wasted and pinned TIL DER his brow
DEATHS sllales w'rc fast gathering now.
He Thought Of his home and the loved ones nigh.
As the cowboys gathered to sec him die,
'Dury mo no, on tho iouo prairie;
Where the wild coyotes will howl Ger me,
Where light ne'cr shines on a dark, lone plain.
Nhere sun u" q = breaks o'r n prairie grave
.id always hoped to 10 laid when I died
IN the old chIrchyarl on the green hillside.
ny IN" side OF my father let my grave be
Oh! bury me not on the lone prairie.
''rd love 20 slumbcr where a mothers care,
And n sisters tear would he shed for me
oh, take me home, for they'll want TO see
Their boy who died on the lone prairie.
.,rhcrc'a ono uhoso to- will no shed
Eor NE boy who Icy on the pra,ric bel;
shc "G Sn. w Srriad p .he,1 ms locks sSS ," shs has T, pres pressed ,hi,
brow.
''o'er these locks she's curied will tho rattlesnahe
on this brow she has pressed will the cold grave
Oh. take me home. FOR she will want to see
Her boy who died OH the lone prairie"
Where tho tip Ugh. wings OF the butterfly rests.
And the white lark ifies Ger the prairie crest.
In a narrow bed. which was six by three.
They buri.d him there on the lone prairie.
For the benefit OF hin, who would be a cowboy
"A tenderfOot on the range-there Is a sar.
castle ditty. calculated to make the newcomer
feel pleasant toward them all. II Is entitled
"A Cowboys Life" and is as follows:
A cowboys life is a dreary one.
lie works from the morn IN the setting of the sun
And then hs days work Is not yet done
For his night guard has still to come on;
Sing owp All. owp ah-cowA away!
CHORUS.
You work all night and you work all day,
Sing whoof ! wee. and .whoof I woe;
Mighty little chuck and mighty, poor pay.
sing whoof l wee. and .whoof I way.
when the '.shorthorn' nrst comes on herd
He thinks he IL a terrible bird.
He thinks herdins is nothing but play,
But he soon fzzles out on a stormy day.
Sing owp ah, owp ah-cowS away.
(Chorus)
Now take one OF these shorthorn ours,
S. y sr h,m Z trimmed iHxns Sf hat sn Sha an a d Sa'F sp %. fPnf !:'Sos.,"
He'll swear, by lingo. he's been a boss.
Sing owp all, owp ah-cows away.
tChorus.)
OF these shorthorn chaps of which I tell
Rather than work with one I'd sooner be in hell,
They curse their grub and cam their horse.
sing owp all. owp ah-cows away.
CChorus.)
The Texas Ranger is a popular song. and
advice. is disregarded bv the cowboy. The
song runs along on all the ranges IN about
these words:
Come all you Texas Rangers.
Wherever YOU may be-.
III tell you of some trouble
That happened unto me.
My name is nothing extra
But IT I will not tell
But here's to noble rangers,
I'm sure I wish them we'll.
1t was at the age of sixteen
i Joined the Jolly band.
Unto the Indian land.
Our Captain did inform us
Perhaps he thought II right
Before we reached the mountain
That we would have to fight.
We heard the Indians comins,
our Captain did command
" And by your horses stand"
saw the Indians coming
heard them raise the yell,
Ny feelings at that moment
No human tongue can tell.
! saw the rifles gl,stening.
The bullets round me hailed
My heart sank within me
My courage did most fail;
saw the smoke ascending,
II almost reached the sky,
The very first thought that came To N"
Was, now is my time 10 die.
thought N my old mother
Who in tears TO me did say,
ITO you they are all strangers,
With me you'd better stay
The best She did not know;
My mind was bent on rowing.
And l was bound TO go.
We fought them FUN nine hours
The like OF dead and wounded
never saw before.
As ever trod the West
Now buried by their comrades
With bullets IN their breast.
This is my condition
As plainly you may see
I've M friends nor sweetheart,
TO weep and mourn for mo.
Perhaps you have a mother,
Likewise a sister, too.
or you may have a sweetheart,
To weep and mourn for You
Although you'd ike TO roam,
III advise you by experience
You'd better stay AT home.
There are. OF course. manv other song. such
as the Diving Cowboy" ''Rucking Bronco"
The Cowboys Lament" As a rule they are
sentimental and sad those given will serve TO
show their general style. a few old songs
have a place In the repertory of the cowboy,
pahaps the strongest of all is that ancient bal-
lad. barbara Allen which only goes to show
that the cowboy, because of his isolation from
womankind. references her sex. her trials and
troubles in proportion to his distance from her.
L IN THE HYENi C1GE.