The Old Chisholm Trail - Michael Martin Murphey

THE OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL

TRADITIONAL

Oh come along, boys, and listen to my tale

I’ll tell you all my troubles on the ol' Chisholm trail

Come a-ti yi youpy youpy yea youpy yea

Come a-ti yi youpy youpy yea

On a ten dollar horse and a forty dollar saddle

I was ridin', and a punchin' Texas cattle

We left ol' Texas October twenty-third

Drivin' up the trail with the U-2 herd

I’m up in the morning before daylight

And before I sleep the moon shine bright

It’s bacon and beans most every day

I’d just as soon be eating prairie hay

I woke up one morning on the Chisholm trail

With a rope in my hand and a cow by the tail

Last night on guard, and the leader broke the ranks

I hit my horse down the shoulders and spurred him in the flanks

Oh, it’s cloudy in the west, and a lookin' like rain

And my darned old slicker’s in the wagon again

Oh the wind commenced to blow and the rain began to fall

And it looked by grab that we was gonna lose 'em all

I jumped in the saddle an' I grabbed a-hold the horn

The best damned cowpuncher ever was born

I was on my best horse, and a going on the run

The quickest shootin' cowboy that ever pulled a gun

No chaps, no slicker, and it’s pouring down rain

And I swear, by God, I’ll never night herd again

I herded and I hollered, and I done pretty well

Till the boss said, «Boys, just let 'em go to Hell.»

I’m going to the ranch to draw my money

Goin' into town to see my honey

I went to the boss to get my roll

He figured me out nine dollars in the hole

So I’ll sell my outfit as fast as I can

And I won’t punch cows for no damn man

So I sold old baldy and I hung up my saddle

And I bid farewell to the longhorn cattle