The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #92300 Message #1762382
Posted By: Barry Finn
17-Jun-06 - 04:19 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Colorado Trail
Subject: Origins: Colorado Trail
Here's what I have from the CD note from Skip Gorman's Lonesome Prairie Love. Now I love this version & Skip says the last verse is his & the 1st 2nd (2nd now used as a chorus) were the original written (words & tune) by James A Bliss (in 1923 as the "Cowboy Song") which is how it appears in Sandburg's American Songbag whom he collected from Dr T.L. Chapman who in turn remember it from a broken wrangler he treated. Skip also states the tune was in a minor key. I've also seen it said that Lee Hays may have written 2 verses, I don't know if he did & if so if any of his verses are what I have here. There's a possibility that Debussy & Gershwin had something to do with it's popular tune. Anyone have anything to add, correct or comment on?
COLORADO TRAIL (words & music by James A Bliss)
Eyes like a morning star Cheeks like a rose; Laura was a pretty girl God almighty knows;
Chorus: Weep all you falling rains, Wail, winds, wail All along, along along The Colorado trail.
additional verses:
Ride, through the lonely night Ride through the day, Keep the herd a-movin' on Movin' on its way.
Ride through stormy night Dark is the sky, Wish I'd stayed in Abilene Were it's mighty and warm and dry.
Face like a prairie flower Laughing all the day Laura was pretty girl Now she's gone away
My aching heart is broke full sore Pinto never fail Laura was a pretty girl Cut down in the gale