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From “Cowboy Songs”
THE SCREAM of the outlaw split the air | |
| As we tied him hard and fast | |
| To the snubbing post in the horse corral; | |
| For his turn had come at last | |
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| To learn the feel of spurs of steel | 5 |
| As they graze along each side. | |
| En Bugger pulled up his chaps a hole, | |
| For he was the next to ride. | |
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| We knew he’d strike, we knew he’d bite, | |
| We knew he’d kick and rear; | 10 |
| So we grabbed his ears en held his head | |
| Till Bugger got up near. | |
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| He stepped into the saddle | |
| En hollered, “Let ’im go!” | |
| We jerked the blinder from his eyes, | 15 |
| Then stopped to watch the show. | |
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| You’ve all heard of pitchin’ horses | |
| From Steamboat down the line: | |
| Old Barometer, en Step Fast | |
| En a mare they called Divine; | 20 |
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| Old Prickly Pear, en Pizen, | |
| Lop Ears, en Stingaree— | |
| They all wuz Shetland ponies | |
| ’Side this horse from Santa Fe. | |
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| We asked Red in tones solicitous | 25 |
| If he had made his will— | |
| Had he any girl in Texas | |
| Who really loved him still? | |
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| Was there any parting message | |
| That he would like to send | 30 |
| To some one in his old, old home | |
| Who still might be his friend? | |
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| Who was his pet undertaker? | |
| What parson should we get? | |
| Would he have flowers on his coffin? | 35 |
| I can hear old Bugger yet: | |
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| “Mosey, you four-flush punchers, | |
| Don’t weep no tears for me!— | |
| I’m a ridin’ kid from Texas, | |
| From the old 3 Bar C! | 40 |
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| “Go up, you old Cloud-getter, | |
| I can see the Pearly Gate, | |
| We’re a-doin’ the Grand Ascension— | |
| Loopin’ the loops, as sure as fate; | |
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| “If I’m a judge of horses, | 45 |
| You’re not one, two, three, | |
| With the gentle stock we used to ride | |
| At the old 3-C!” | |
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| He whipped old Sky-high till he quit, | |
| He rowelled him up and down. | 50 |
| Old Sky-high had a plenty— | |
| He could hardly turn around. | |
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| En we heard old Bugger hummin’ | |
| Es he turned the outlaw free, | |
| “I’m a ridin’ kid from Texas, | 55 |
| From the old 3-C!” | |
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