“Punchin' Dough”
Description
The cook points out to the cowboys that "While you're punchin' cattle I'm punchin' the dough." His life is much like theirs, except that he fights with food where they fight with animals. He intends to be "boss of this end of the show."
Notes
The cook on a cattle run was usually an old cowboy who could no longer do the work. It's hardly surprising that he looked on the cowboys as "kids" -- nor that he used his control over the chuck to keep the cowboys in line. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Budd Lake Plains" (theme)
- cf. "The Pot Wrassler" (theme)
Recordings
- Jules Allen, "Punchin' the Dough" (Victor V-40263, 1930)
- Harry Jackson, "The Round-Up Cook" (on HJackson1, CowFolkCD1)
References
- Fife-Cowboy/West 37, "Punchin' Dough" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, PNCHDOUG*
- Roud #5098
- BI, FCW037