“I'm Bound to Follow the Longhorn Cows”
Description
"I'm bound to follow the longhorn cows until I git too old. It's well I work for wages, boys, I git my pay in gold." The singer boasts of his skills as a cowboy. He describes the difficulties of stampedes. He hopes to save up money to be married
Notes
This song was featured in the film "The Wagon Master"; Ken Maynard is described as the "pioneer of cowboy singing stars" in the movies. - PJS
If the texts printed by the Fifes are any indication, this piece can take on almost any form, and the incidents can take place in almost any order; the only line their texts have entirely in common is "My trade is cinches and saddles and ropes and bridle reins." And the Lomax text is again very different, with changes in all the verses, much new material, and a different order. - RBW
Recordings
- Ken Maynard, "The Lone Star Trail" (Columbia 2310-D, 1930; on AAFM3, WhenIWas1)
References
- Larkin, pp. 162-163, "I'm Bound to Follow the Long Horn Cow" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Lomax-FSNA 186, "I'm Bound to Follow the Longhorn Cows" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Hudson 97, pp. 228-229, "The Jolly Cowboy" (1 text, much shorter than Lomax's)
- Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 104, "The Lone Star Trail" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Fife-Cowboy/West 114, "Lone Star Trail" (2 texts, 1 tune)
- Roud #5765
- BI, LoF186