“The Black Tail Range”

Description

"I am a roving cowboy Off from the western plains." Vignettes about cowboy life: One cowboy is rejected by a girl because he is poor. Another recalls leaving his family. Others tell of the dangers of mining and suggests hunting instead

Notes

Larkin's informant Bob Norfleet claims that he and a group of cowboys made this up in 1893, with each cowboy contributing a verse on pain of having to do the day's cooking. Given the miscellaneous nature of the verses, this seems possible -- but it was a surprisingly poetic bunch of cowboys. - RBW

References

  1. Larkin, pp. 141-143, "The Black Tail Range" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Roud #5762
  3. BI, Lark141

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1931 (Larkin)
Found in: US