“The Trail to Mexico”

Description

The singer is hired by A.J. Stinson to drive a herd to Mexico. While away, his sweetheart has left him for a richer man. Though she asks him to remain at home and safe, he sets out for the trail again and swears to spend the rest of his life on the trail

Notes

Cox and Fife both consider this to be derived from "Early, Early in the Spring" [Laws M1], and even Laws concedes kinship. Roud in fact lumps the songs. However, as Laws also notes, "the cowboy ballad... shows considerable reworking." - RBW

It's also worth noting that this song, "Boggy Creek," and "Buffalo Skinners" share enough lyrics, plot elements, etc. to make life interesting and confusing. - PJS

Cross references

• cf. "Early, Early in the Spring" [Laws M1] (plot)
• cf. "Buffalo Skinners" [Laws B10a] (a few overlapping lyrics)

Recordings

• Len Nash & his Country Boys, "The Trail to Mexico" (Brunswick 354, 1929; Supertone S-2069, 1930)
• Harry "Mac" McClintock, "The Trail to Mexico" (Victor V-40016, 1929; Montgomery Ward M-4469 [as Harry "Mac" McClintock and his Haywire Orchestra], 1934)
• Pete Seeger, "Trail to Mexico" (on PeteSeeger07, PeteSeeger07a)
• Carl T. Sprague, "Following the Cow Trail" (Victor 20067, 1925; Montgomery Ward M-4468, 1934; on AuthCowboys)
• Texas Rangers, "The Trail to Mexico" (Decca 5183, 1936)

References

1. Laws B13, "The Trail to Mexico"
2. Larkin, pp. 61-63, "Trail to Mexico" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Sandburg, pp. 285-286, "The Trail to Mexico" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Fife-Cowboy/West 66, "The Trail to Mexico" (5 texts, 1 tune, of which only the "A" and "B" texts go here; "C" and "D" are "Early, Early in the Spring" and "E" is "Going to Leave Old Texas")
5. Botkin-AmFolklr, pp. 858-859, "Trail to Mexico" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Ohrlin-HBT 62, "Trail to Mexico" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
7. Saffel-CowboyP, pp. 197-199, "The Trail to Mexico" (1 text)
8. DT 380, TRAILMEX
9. Roud #152
10. BI, LB13