“Little Joe the Wrangler”

Description

"Little Joe" runs away from home because of a parental remarriage. He is taken in by cowboys and learns how to herd cattle. When a storm starts blowing, he stops a stampede but is killed in the process

Notes

Larkin notes that, in a cattle ride, the horse wrangler (responsible for controlling the horses and bringing them to the riders as needed) stood low in the social hierarchy but often played a vital role when the herd was nervous or the riders busy. - RBW

Cross references

Recordings

  • Jules Allen, "Little Joe the Wrangler" (Victor 21470, 1928; Montgomery Ward M-4344, 1933; Montgomery Ward M-4780, 1935)
  • Leon Chappelear, "Little Joe the Wrangler" Champion 45068, c. 1935; Montgomery Ward M-4950, 1936)
  • Edward L. Crain, "Little Joe the Wrangler" (Crown 3239/Conqueror 8010, 1932; Homestead 22991, c. 1932)
  • Harry Jackson, "Little Joe the Wrangler" (on HJackson1)
  • Goebel Reeves, "Little Joe, the Wrangler" (Melotone M-12214, 1931; Panachord 25313, 1932; on MakeMe)
  • Arnold Keith Storm, "Little Joe, the Wrangler" (on AKStorm01)
  • Marc "The Cowboy Crooner" Williams, "Little Joe, the Wrangler" (Brunswick 269, 1928)

References

  1. Laws B5, "Little Joe the Wrangler"
  2. Randolph 203, "Little Joe the Wrangler" (1 text)
  3. Thorp/Fife I, pp. 28-37 (9-11), "Little Joe, the Wrangler" (4 texts -- one of them being "Sister Nell" and another a parody about "Joe... That hung that bunch of cactus on the wall," 1 tune)
  4. Logsdon 2, pp. 32-37, "Little Joe, the Wrangler" (1 text, 1 tune)
  5. Larkin, pp. 123-126, "Little Joe, the Wrangler" (1 text, 1 tune)
  6. Fife-Cowboy/West 79, "Little Joe, the Wrangler" (1 text, 1 tune)
  7. Darling-NAS, pp. 166-167, "Little Joe the Wrangler" (1 text)
  8. Silber-FSWB, p. 265, "Little Joe The Wrangler" (1 text)
  9. Saffel-CowboyP, pp. 207-208, "Little Joe, The Wrangler" (1 text)
  10. DT 373, LITTLEJO*
  11. Roud #1930
  12. BI, LB05

About

Author: N. Howard Thorp (1898)
Earliest date: 1908 (Thorp's "Songs of the Cowboys")
Keywords: cowboy death
Found in: US(NW,Ro,So,SW)