WHEN I WAS A COWBOY
(as sung by Lead Belly)

When I was a cowboy, way out on de Western Plains,
When I was a cowboy, way out on de Western Plains,
I made a million dollars pullin’ de bridle reins.

refrain:
Coma-cow-cow, coma-cow-cow, yicky-yicky-yea.

Oh, de hardes’ battle was ever on a Bunker Hill,
When we an’ a bunch o’ cowboys run into Buffalo Bill.

Oh, de hardes’ battle was ever on-a Western plains,
When me an’ a bunch o’ cowboys run into Jesse James.

When me an’ a bunch o’ cowboys run into Jesse James.
De bullets was a-fallin’ jes’ like a shower rain.

Coma-cow-cow, coma-cow-cow, yicky-yicky-yea.

(from "American Ballads and Folk Songs," John and Alan Lomax)

No Odi, Hart, and Spanner, Murray, but I think this is the song you're looking for. If you search the database with brackets for [when I was a cowboy], you should find two songs that start with that line, but they're two versions of a song called "Dallas County Jail." Hope this one does the trick for you, Murray.
-Joe Offer-

Coma-cow-cow, coma-cow-cow, yicky-yicky-yea