The Habit
(Traditional)

I've beat my way wherever any winds have blown
I've bummed along from Portland down to San Antone
From Shady Hook to Frisco, over plains and hills
When you get the habit you just can't keep still

I ride wherever the wind blows
I'm drifting like a tumbleweed
I'm just a wandering troubador
A song and my guitar is all I need

I've seen a lot of places where I'd like to stay
But I get to feeling restless, then I'm on my way
I was never meant for sitting on my own door sill
For once you get the habit you just can't keep still

I ride wherever the wind blows
I'm drifting like a tumbleweed
I'm just a wandering troubador
A song and my guitar is all I need

I've been in rich men's houses and I've been in jail
When it's time for leaving I just hits the trail
I'm a human bird of passage and the song I trill
Is once you get the habit you just can't keep still

I ride wherever the wind blows
I'm drifting like a tumbleweed
I'm just a wandering troubador
A song and my guitar is all I need

The sun is sorta coaxing and the road is clear
The wind is singing ballads that I just gotta hear
There ain't no use to argue when you feel the thrill
Once you get the habit you just can't keep still

I ride wherever the wind blows
I'm drifting like a tumbleweed
I'm just a wandering troubador
A song and my guitar is all I need
 

The Brazos
(Traditional)

We crossed the wide Pecos, we forded the Nueces
Swum the Guadalupe, we followed the Brazos
Red River runs rusty, the Wichita clear
But down by the Brazos I courted my dear

The fair Angelina runs glossy and gliding
The crooked Colorado runs weaving and winding
The slow Anantonio courses the plains
I never will walk by the Brazos again

Li la li le
Give me your hand
Li la li le
Give me your hand
Li la li le
Give me your hand
There's many a river that water's the land

She kissed me she hugged me she called me her dandy
The Trinity is muddy the Brazos quicksandy
She kissed me she hugged me she called me her own
But down by the Brazos she left me alone

Now the girls of Little River, they're sweet and they're pretty
The Sabine and the Sober have many a beauty
By the banks of Nacagodoches there's girls by the score
But down by the Brazos I'll wander no more

Li la li le
Give me your hand
Li la li le
Give me your hand
Li la li le
Give me your hand
There's many a river that water's the land
 

 

The Ballad Of Jesse James
(Traditional)

Jesse James was a lad who killed many men
He robbed the Danville train
He stole from the rich and he gave to the poor
He'd a hand and a heart and a brain

Well Jesse was a man who's a friend to the poor
He couldn't see a brother suffer pain
It was with his brother Frank he robbed the Springfield bank
And he stopped the Glendale train

Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life
Two children, they were brave
But that dirty little coward who shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave

It was Robert Ford, that dirty little coward
I wonder how he did feel
For he slept in Jesse's bed, took of Jesse's bread
And he laid poor Jesse in his grave

Jesse went to his rest, with his hand upon his breast
There were many who never saw his face
He was born one day in the county of Clay
And he came from a solitary race

Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life
Two children, they were brave
But that dirty little coward who shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave

This song was made by Billy Gashade
As soon as the news did arrive
He said there's not a man with the law in his hand
Who'd ever take Jesse James alive

Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life
Two children, they were brave
But that dirty little coward who shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave
 

Sonora's Death Row
(Blackie Ferrell)

Me and the boys cinched up our saddles and rode to Sonora last night
Guns hanging proud and daring outloud for anyone looking to fight

Card cheats and rustlers would run for their holes when the boys from the old broken O
Rode up and reigned on the street that they named Sonora's Death Row

Mescal is free in Amanda's Saloon for the boys from the old broken O
Saturday nights in the town of Sonora were the best in old Mexico

They got guitars and trumpets and sweet senorita's who won't wanna let you go
You'd never believe such a gay, happy time on a street called Sonora's Death Row

Inside Amanda's I was a dancing with all of Amanda's gals
I'd won some silver in seven card stud so I was out doing my pals

The whiskey and mescal, pesos cigars drove me outside for some air
Where somebody whispered, you're life or your money, I reached but my gun wasn't there

I woke up facedown in Amanda's back alley, aware of the foo I had been
Rushed to my pony, grabbed my Winchester and entered Amanda's again

There I saw my partners twirling my pistols and throwing my money around
Blinded by anger, I jacked the lever and one of them fell to the ground

Amandas went silent like night in the desert, my friend stared in pure disbelief
Amanda was kneeling beside the dead cowboy plainly expressing her grief

As I bowed my head a tremble shot through me my six gun was still at my side
I felt my pockets, there was my money, I fell to my knees and I cried

For a nightmare of mescal was all that it was and no one had robbed me at all
I wish I was dreaming the sound of the gallows they're testing just outside the walls

Mescal's still free in Amanda's Saloon for the boys from the old Broken O
I'd give em ransom to drink there today and be free of Sonora's Death Row
 

Gypsy Davey
(Traditional)

Was late last night when the boss came home asking about his lady
The only answer he received was she's gone with gypsy Davey, gone with gypsy Dave

Go saddle for me my buckskin mare with the hundred dollar saddle
Point out to me their fresh laid tracks and after them I'll travel, after them I'll ride

Well I had not rode till the midnight moon when I saw their campfire gleaming
Heard the notes of the big guitar and the song that he was singing, singing gypsy Dave

And there in the light of the camping fire I saw her fair face beaming
Her heart in tune with the big guitar and song that they were singing, the song of gypsy Dave

Have you forsaken your house and home have you forsaken your baby
Have you forsaken your husband dear to go with gypsy Davey, to sing with gypsy Dave

Yes I've forsaken my husband dear to go with gypsy Davey
And I'll forsake your mansion high but not my blue eyed baby, pretty little blue eyed babe

She smiled to leave her husband there and go with the gypsy Davey
But the tears come a trickling down her face to think of her blue eyed baby, her pretty little blue eyed babe

Take off take off your buckskin gloves made of spanish leather
Give to me your lily white hand and we'll ride home together, we'll ride home again

No I won't take off my buckskin gloves they're made of spanish leather
I'll go my way day to day and sing with gypsy Davey, I love gypsy Dave

Have you forsaken your house and home, have you forsaken your baby, have your forsaken your husband dear
To go with with gypsy Davey, sing with gypsy Davey, To go with gypsy Davey and sing with gypsy Dave
 

 

Red River Valley
(Traditiional)

From this valley they say you are going
I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened my pathway awhile

Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loves you so true

The coyotes will howl all around me
While so sadly I strum my guitar
As I pour out the love I must vanquish
Into the mirage of a star

Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loves you so true

Will you think of the valley you're leaving
Oh how lonely and dreary it will be
Do you think of this kind heart you're breaking
And the pain that you are causing me

Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loves you so true
 

Chopo
Traditional

Through rocky arroyo so dark and so deep
Down sides of the mountains both slippery and steep
Sure footed, good judgement wherever you go
A safety conveyance my little Chopo

Whether single or double or lead of a team
Over highways or biways or crossing a stream
You're always in fix and willing to go
Whenver you're called upon my chico Chopo

Chopo my pony, Chopo my pride
Chopo mi amigo, Chopo I'll ride
From Mexico's border, cross Texas Llano
From the salt Peco river I'll ride you Chopo

You're a good roping horse, you're never jerked down
When tied to a steer you circle him around
Once across the string and over he'll go
You sabe the business my cowhorse Chopo

One night on the Llano a hailstorm began
The cattle stampeded, the horses all ran
The lightning it glittered, a cyclone did blow
You faced the sweet music, my little Chopo

Chopo my pony, Chopo my pride
Chopo mi amigo, Chopo I'll ride
From Mexico's border, cross Texas Llano
From the salt Peco river I'll ride you Chopo
 

 

The Cowboy Song
(Amos Staggs)

Pushing horns weren't easy like the movies says it was
I don't remember dancehall girls or hotel rooms with rugs
You worked hot and tired and nasty, rode your pony head to low
And all them nights you couldn't sleep cause it was too damn cold
And we sang Strawberry Roan and Little Joe

Or the night we hit the river and the rain begun to fall
Water rising so damn fast, thought it would drowned us all
And we lost a lot of steers that day, four or five good mounts
But when all the boys rode into camp, we knew that's what counts
And we sang woopie ti yi yay and Amazing Grace

Or the time they broke behind us and they took us by surprise
I whistled out to Bonner, I saw the terror in his eyes
And he rode for all his horse would ride, I know he done his best
But he crossed over Jordan riding Dunnie to his death
And we sang Brining In The Sheaves and The Rugged Cross

So when you see the cowboy he's not ragged by his choice
He never meant to bow them legs or put that gravel in his voice
He's just chasing what he really loves what's burning in his soul
Wishing to Hell that he'd been born a hundred years ago
Still singing Strawberry Roan and Little Joe

I Ride An Old Paint
(Traditional)

I'm riding Old Paint, I'm leading Old Dan
Going to Montana to throw the houlihan
They feed in the coulies, they water in the draw
They're tails are all matted, they're backs are all raw

Goodbye Old Paint I'm leaving Cheyenne
Goodbye Old Paint I'm leaving Cheyenne
I'm leaving Cheyenne, I'm bound for Montana
Goodbye Old Paint, I'm leaving Cheyenne

I'm leaving this country to stay for a while
Across the wide prairie a many a mile
It's dark, cold and dreary the moon sheds no light
And my horse won't travel this dark road at night

Goodbye Old Paint I'm leaving Cheyenne
Goodbye Old Paint I'm leaving Cheyenne
I'm leaving Cheyenne, I'm bound for Montana
Goodbye Old Paint, I'm leaving Cheyenne

My foots in the stirrup, my bridle in my hand
Old Paint's a good pony, he paces when he can
I'll spread down my blanket on the green grassy ground
Where the horses and cattle are grazing around

Goodbye Old Paint I'm leaving Cheyenne
Goodbye Old Paint I'm leaving Cheyenne
I'm leaving Cheyenne, I'm bound for Montana
Goodbye Old Paint, I'm leaving Cheyenne

Now when I die take my saddle from the wall
Put it on my pony and lead him from the wall
Tie my bones to his back and face us to the west
And we'll ride the prairie that we love the best

Goodbye Old Paint I'm leaving Cheyenne
Goodbye Old Paint I'm leaving Cheyenne
I'm leaving Cheyenne, I'm bound for Montana
Goodbye Old Paint, I'm leaving Cheyenne