Author Topic: Them Old Cowboy Songs  (Read 12393 times)

Offline southendmd

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Them Old Cowboy Songs
« on: August 29, 2009, 04:30:03 pm »
No, this is not about Annie's story, but rather about real, old, or not so old, cowboy songs. 

It's a rainy day, and I got to thinking about the old song "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle".  It seems to say that a cowboy can't court a girl because he's more interested in horsing around.  I once heard the Connecticut Gay Men's Chorus sing this and it was hilarious. 

It was a #1 song in the US in the summer of 1942 for Kay Kyser. 

Here's a particularly campy version from the film "The Forest Ranger".

Do you have any favorites?

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CUXLuVjO-w[/youtube]

Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2009, 04:37:37 pm »
Here's the jazzy Kay Kyser version, vocals by Harry Babbit and Julie Conway:  

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq7wO1qtQuM[/youtube]
« Last Edit: May 21, 2014, 04:59:42 pm by southendmd »

Offline Sason

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2009, 04:45:34 pm »
I wonder what made you think of that song....?

 ;D


You gotta warn people for the first version of the song.

You risk falling off your chair from LOLing when you see it!!

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Offline Monika

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2009, 04:58:25 pm »


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CUXLuVjO-w[/youtube]
girls with horse heads attached to their fronts? I bet Freud would have something to say about that :o


Don´t know if this counts as "old" but I quite like "A Song of Wyoming" by John Denver

[youtube=425,350]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="
&hl=sv&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="
&hl=sv&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/youtube]


Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2009, 05:02:29 pm »
"Big Rock Candy Mountain"

This, of course, was in our film, as the inspiration for Lureen's "bluebirds sing and there's a whiskey spring".  There are numerous versions, with different words, exchanging peppermint trees for cigarette trees, and gin or whiskey becomes lemonade or soda pop!  The song apparently dates to the 1890s, with recordings from the 1920s and later recordings by Tex Ritter and Burl Ives in the 1940s.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovKk_kPmAk4[/youtube]

Originally, the song described a child being recruited into the hobo life, with tales of fantastical things.  Wiki shows the original last stanza:

The punk rolled up his big blue eyes
And said to the jocker, "Sandy,
I've hiked and hiked and wandered too,
But I ain't seen any candy.
I've hiked and hiked till my feet are sore
And I'll be damned if I hike any more
To be buggered sore like a hobo's whore
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains."
« Last Edit: May 21, 2014, 05:02:12 pm by southendmd »

Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2009, 05:15:49 pm »
I did  say it was campy, Sonja!

Thanks for your contribution, Monika.  Not-so-old songs are welcome too. 

Your'e right about Freud and horse-fronts LOL.

Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #6 on: August 29, 2009, 05:21:37 pm »
Here's my favorite contemporary cowgirl song, "Prairie in the Sky", by Mary McCaslin, from the 1970s.  Maybe French horns aren't too "cowboy", but such a plaintive sound. 

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuGMHTOEUG8[/youtube]

Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #7 on: August 29, 2009, 10:44:08 pm »
Thanks for starting this very interesting thread, friend! I'm enjoying listening to all the music!

That last stanza to Big Rock Candy Mountain is kind of heartbreaking. When I was a child, I used to sing Jingle Jangle Jingle with different words. I am glad to know "the salty words" to it!!
"chewing gum and duct tape"

Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #8 on: August 29, 2009, 10:52:53 pm »
Was that what Dylan was referring to when he sang, "In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you."
"chewing gum and duct tape"

Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2009, 12:09:06 am »
Was that what Dylan was referring to when he sang, "In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you."

Good question, Lee.  I looked it up--wiki states that Dylan lifted those lyrics from hipster Lord Buckley.  Lord knows where he got them from!

Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2011, 10:35:59 am »
"Get hip, little dogies"!!!

I heard a strange cowboy song on the radio yesterday.  It's called "Cow Cow Boogie" by Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots, from 1944.

The song was featured in the Abbott and Costello film "Ride 'Em, Cowboy", in which Ella made her film debut singing "A-Tisket A-Tasket".  


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5lDpRJR6pU[/youtube]
« Last Edit: May 21, 2014, 04:33:53 pm by southendmd »

Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2011, 10:37:09 am »
Here's a version by Dorothy Dandrige, in a cute little outfit:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xovmaG9S0sQ&feature=related[/youtube]

Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #12 on: February 19, 2011, 10:41:51 am »
I believe this is the earliest version, from 1942.  

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9AfqVIxEzg&feature=related[/youtube]

Ella Mae Morse, with Freddie Slack and His Orchestra, singing "Cow Cow Boogie" in this soundie from 1942.

Out on the plains down near Santa Fe
I met a cowboy ridin the range one day
And as he jogged along I heard him singin
The most peculiar cowboy song
It was a ditty, he learned in the city
Comma ti yi yi yea
Comma ti yippity yi yea

Now get along, get hip little doggies
Get along, better be on your way
Get along, get hip little doggies
He trucked em on down the old fairway
Singin his cow cow boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yea
Comma ti yippity yi yea

(chorus)

Singin his cowboy song
He's just too much
He's got a knocked out western accent with a Harlem touch
He was raised on locoweed
He's what you call a swing half breed
Singin his cow cow booogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yea
Comma ti yippity yi yea

(repeat chorus)

Offline Sason

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #13 on: February 19, 2011, 10:45:25 am »
"He was raised on local weed"  :laugh:



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Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2011, 10:51:20 am »
"He was raised on local weed"  :laugh:

Actually, it's "locoweed", even stranger:

Def:  Any of several plants of the genera Oxytropis and Astragalus in the pea family, which are widespread in the western and central United States and cause severe poisoning ("locoism") when eaten by livestock. Also called crazyweed.

Offline Sason

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #15 on: February 19, 2011, 11:05:53 am »
Actually, it's "locoweed", even stranger:

Def:  Any of several plants of the genera Oxytropis and Astragalus in the pea family, which are widespread in the western and central United States and cause severe poisoning ("locoism") when eaten by livestock. Also called crazyweed.

Yeah, I saw that when you posted the lyrics, but "local weed" is how I heard it in the song. 

Sounded very funny to me  ;D

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Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #16 on: February 19, 2011, 11:13:09 am »
Now it's the boys' turn:  The Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra AKA The Squadronairs, from 1943, featuring Sid Colin.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD3uJEQR7B0&feature=related[/youtube]

Offline Meryl

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #17 on: February 19, 2011, 11:53:04 am »
"Get hip, little dogies"!!!

I heard a strange cowboy song on the radio yesterday.  It's called "Cow Cow Boogie" by Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots, from 1944.

The song was featured in the Abbott and Costello film "Ride 'Em, Cowboy", in which Ella made her film debut singing "A-Tisket A-Tasket". 


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLGu2ArpzeA[/youtube]

Nice!  They're so laid back, I wouldn't be surprised if they knew something about the local weed, too.  ;D
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Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #18 on: May 21, 2014, 04:31:53 pm »
Here is Tex Ritter with his version of "Jingle Jangle Jingle", which some people think is the best.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_9pVRZ0QKw[/youtube]

Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #19 on: May 21, 2014, 05:06:02 pm »
Ennis is quietly humming this song, just before he come on a bear: "The Streets of Laredo"

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KaXj9SK1TE[/youtube]

As I walked out in the streets of Laredo,
I walked out in Laredo one day,
I spied a young cowboy all wrapped in white linen,
Wrapped in bright linen and cold as the clay.

"I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy",
These words he did say as I boldly stepped by,
"Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story,
Got shot in the breast and I know I must die."

"It was once in the saddle I used to go dashing,
Once in the saddle I used to go gay,
Well, I first took to drinkin' and then to card- playin',
Got shot in the breast and I'm dyin' today.

"Get sixteen cowboys to carry my coffin,
Seven pretty ladies to sing me a song,
Put a good bronc tiger on board of my coffin,
Raise hell as you carry me along.

"Put the red, red roses all over my coffin,
Put the red, red roses all over my pall,
Put the red. red roses all over my coffin,
Roses to deaden the clods as they fall.

"Go get me a cup, a cup of cold water,
To cool my parched lips," the cowboy then said,
Before I'd returned his soul had departed,
He'd gone to the roundup; the cowboy was dead.l

We played the fife lowly, we beat the drum slowly,
Played the dead march as we carried him along,
For we all loved that cowboy, so brave, young and handsome,
We all loved our comrade although he'd done wrong.


Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #20 on: May 21, 2014, 05:12:40 pm »
"Ennis knew the salty words to 'Strawberry Roan'"--short story

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX0FPaMwweU[/youtube]
Buddy Ebsen introduces Rex Allen, Sr.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPQKhAxDnp8[/youtube]
Michael Martin Murphey and Chris LeDoux

Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #21 on: May 21, 2014, 05:14:10 pm »
Don´t know if this counts as "old" but I quite like "A Song of Wyoming" by John Denver
Hmm, your version doesn't show at all.  Here it is:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McDZK1ir5QI[/youtube]

I'm weary and tired I've done my day's ridin' nighttime is rolling my way
The sky's all on fire and the light's slowly fadin' peaceful and still ends the day
Out on the trail night birds are callin' singin' their wild melody
Down in the canyon cottonwood whispers a Song of Wyoming for me

I've wandered around the town and the city tried to figure the how and the why
I've stopped all my schemin' I'm just driftin' and dreamin'
Watching the river roll by
And here comes that big ole prairie moon risin' shinin' down bright as can be
And up on the hill there's a coyote singin' a Song of Wyoming for me

Well now it's whiskey and tobacco and bitter black coffee a lonesome old doggie am I
Waking up on the range Lord I feel like an angel free like I almost could fly
Drift like a cloud out over the badlands sing like a bird in the tree
The wind through the sage sounds like heaven singin' a Song of Wyoming for me
A Song of Wyoming for me


Offline Sason

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #22 on: May 21, 2014, 05:14:37 pm »
Ennis is quietly humming this song, just before he come on a bear:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KaXj9SK1TE[/youtube]


Oh, that's a very nice one!


Too bad the bear interrupted him!  ;D


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Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #23 on: May 21, 2014, 05:45:13 pm »

Oh, that's a very nice one!


Too bad the bear interrupted him!  ;D

Yes, that is nice.  I like the instrumentation.  Here's another version, by Don Edwards, with old photos of Laredo, Texas.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a_PlG3dtl8[/youtube]

Offline southendmd

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Re: Them Old Cowboy Songs
« Reply #24 on: May 21, 2014, 05:50:34 pm »
Mark Weigle's "Two Cowboy Waltz", a modern favorite.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONOVpdKC8ng[/youtube]