The Hills of Mexico

A cowboy variant on "The Buffalo Song", which was written by one John B. Freeman during a season of buffalo hunting in 1877. That song was in turn patterned on an 1850s Canadian lumberjack song called "Canaday-I-O", which itself was based on an earlier English sea ballad. A fragment of a similar "cowboy" version was first published in 1923 under the title "Boggus Creek"; a full version followed in 1927, collected from a cowboy named James "Honey Jim" Mullens, who recalled learning it on a cattle drive during the 1880s. For an extensively researched dive into the evolution of this family of songs, click here.

## Factoids

Andy has mentioned that his arrangement of the song is based on this arrangement by Meredith Moon.

## Lyrics

Too many variations of this song exist to identify any definitive version; these lyrics are based on the song as performed in the band's livestreams.

>
> When I's in old Fort Worth in eighteen and eighty three
>
> Some old Mexican cowboy come stepping up to me
>
> Saying "How are you young fella, how would you like to go
>
> And to spend another season 'neath them hills of Mexico?"
>
>
>
> Well, I had no employment, and back to him did say
>
> "It's according to your wages, according to your pay"
>
> He said "I'll pay to you good wages, and often too, you know
>
> If you'll spend another season 'neath them hills of Mexico"
>
>
>
> Well I went up to that cowboy and I offered him my hand
>
> And he gave a string of horses so old they couldn't stand
>
> And I nearly starved to death boys, and I mean to let you know
>
> That I never saved a dollar 'neath them hills of Mexico
>
>
>
> I sent up for my wages, on a steamboat I did go
>
> How them bells they did ring and them whistles they did blow
>
> How them bells they did ring and them whistles they did blow
>
> On that godforsaken fortune 'neath them hills of Mexico
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns Save the Day! Or maybe just sing and chat... 29 Apr 2020)
* Last Stream Before Album Launch! (27 May 2020)
* We Built This Stream(y) on Shant and Folk (11 Nov 2020)
* Sweet Streams are Made of This (17 Mar 2021)
* Stream If You Wanna Go Faster (12 May 2021)
* STREAM (4 Aug 2021)
* It's The Most Wonderful Stream of the Year (22 Dec 2021)
* Streamage Mutant Ninja Turtles (3 May 2022)
* In Space No One Can Hear You Stream (19 Oct 2022)
* Stream Girls (27 Apr 2023)
* Stream Lantern (27 Sep 2023)
* Little Stream of Horrors (25 Oct 2023)
* Streamboat Willie (17 Jan 2024)

#### Chill Streams

* JD & Andy Chilltime - 13/01/2020
* Welcome to the Chilldome! With Andy - 15/03/2020
* Come on down to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 26/03/2020
* Chillbury Town: Population You! With Andy & JD - 30/03/2020
* Roll on down to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 04/04/2020
* We all get songs in Chillbury Town! With Andy and JD - 06/04/2020
* Roll on down to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 10/04/2020
* It's a glorious morning in Chillbury Town! With Andy - 17/04/2020
* Welcome to Chillville! Population: Andy - 01/05/2020
* Friday Morning Super Folk Music Time! - 29/05/2020
* Enter the Chilldome! Playing mostly folk music... - 05/06/2020
* Are you a chill enough dude to defeat the Chilldome? - 10/07/2020
* Pack your bags! We're moving to Chillbury Town. - 14/08/2020
* Look out! It's a music! Playing mostly folk... - 21/08/2020
* Hold on to your hats! I'm attempting a music! - 28/08/2020
* Hold my herbal tea! I'm doing a music! - 04/09/2020
* Shut the front door! It's a music! - 18/09/2020
* Music? Music! - 25/09/2020
* Music? Splendid! - 09/10/2020
* Batten down the hatches! A music is coming! - 30/10/2020
* It's folk music time! New banjo! - 11/12/2020
* Super Friday Folk Music Time! - 18/12/2020
* Just one tired man and a banjo... - 17/01/2021
* To the Banjo Cave! - 29/11/2021
* We'll all drink herbal tea in Chillbury Town - 14/04/2022 Stream Full VOD

#### Gaming Streams

* Sea of Thieves Tall Tales Marathon for Charity Part 2 (24 Jun 2020)
* Sea of Sings. Tonight we hit the high C's... - 10/07/2020
* I like big boats and I cannot lie - 17/08/2020
* Sailing, Wailing and Failing with Captain Falcore! - 19/10/2020
* Full Friendship followed by Battle Royale! - 23/11/2020
* Sea of Joviality with KroTukk and KHARITES\_ - 28/11/2020
* Sea of Sings! Boats and stuff! - 15/02/2021
* Roll on up, roll on down. We all get songs in Streaming Town - 31/05/2021
* Stop blowing holes in my ship! with THE Cpt Jack Sparrow & THE Kharites\_! - 25/06/2021
* Sing and Sail with Friends! Joined by @brionykay - 09/08/2021
* Sea of Sings - Putting the rum in rumbustiousness since 1862 - 06/09/2021
* Aga Do Do Do, Eat Pineapples Do A Stream! With KHARITES\_ and Krotukk - 08/10/2021
* Two SoT streams in one week?!? What is this, 2020? - 01/04/2022

1. ↑ https://umaine.edu/folklife/what-we-do/programs-and-events/maine-song-and-story-sampler-map/places/franklin-canaday-i-o/