“Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail”
Description
Two cowboys, having spent a wild time in town, are returning to camp when they meet the Devil. The Devil tries to collect their souls; the cowboys have the better of the fight, leaving the Devil tied up, branded, and with its tail in knots
Notes
Logsdon lists various authors who have been credited with this piece, but states pretty unequivocally that Gail Gardner is the actual author. Gardner did obtain the copyright, and Logsdon's evidence does add up to a very strong case; none of the other claimants appear to have any real supporting documentation.
According to Cannon, the "Sierry Petes" (Gardner's official title) refers specifically to the Sierra Prieta range in Arizona. - RBW
Same tune
- East Texas Red (by Woody Guthrie) (on Thieme03)
Cross references
- cf. "De Hoffnung" (theme)
Recordings
- Cisco Houston, "Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail" (Disc 5069, 1940s)
- Harry Jackson, "Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail" (on HJackson1)
- Powder River Jack & Kitty Lee, "Tying A Knot In The Devil's Tail" (Victor 23527, 1930; Montgomery Ward M-4462, 1934; on AuthCowboys, BackSaddle, WhenIWas1)
References
- Laws B17, "Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail"
- Larkin, pp. 75-78, "Rusty Jiggs and Sandy Sam" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Fife-Cowboy/West 74, "Tying Knots in the Devil's Tail" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Lomax-FSNA 203, "Tyin' a Knot in the Devil's Tail" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Lomax-ABFS, pp. 406-409, "Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail" (1 text)
- Ohrlin-HBT 27, "The Sierry Petes" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Logsdon 19, pp. 127-132, "The Soughrty Peaks" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Darling-NAS, pp. 174-176, "Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail" (1 text)
- Silber-FSWB, p. 112, "Tyin' A Knot In The Devil's Tail" (1 text)
- DT 384, DVLTAIL*
- ADDITIONAL: Hal Cannon, editor, _Cowboy Poetry: A Gathering_, Giles M. Smith, 1985, pp. 3-5, "The Sierry Petes" (1 text)
- Roud #3238
- BI, LB17