Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .

Subject: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 01:05 AM

From Ian & Sylvia's "Play One More" album, and it's drivin' me nuts 'cause I can only recall one verse:

When I was a cowboy, out on the western range
Now, when I was a cowboy, out on the western range
Me and a bunch of cowboys ran into Jesse James
Come-a cow-cow yippie, cow-cow yippie, yippie-yay

Not in the digitrad, or any of my other resources. Pretty please help. . .

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 03:10 AM

The closest I could find on a google search is a reissue on Vanguard of their greatest hits, where it is listed as:

WHEN I WAS A COWBOY
(Trad. arr. & adpt. by Fricker/Tyson)
Ian & Rick Turner, guitars; Felix Pappalardi, bass; Paul Griffin, organ

There's lots of other, by Ian, avaialable HERE.

Sorry, I'd love to hear this, so I hope someone else can help.

kat

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: GUEST,Neil Comer
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 05:46 PM

What was the greatest battle, ever on Bunker Hill (x2) was when me and a bunch of cowboys, ran into Buffalo Bill, Come-a cow-cow yippie, cow-cow yippie, yippie-yay

here's another verse from memory Excellent version by Rory Gallagher, played in DADGAD tuning

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: Greyeyes
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 05:49 PM

I think it's "Western Cowboy" by Leadbelly, previous thread Also here

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: GUEST,willie-o
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 06:40 PM

Also recorded by David Rea, who did a stint as I & S's guitar player.

Played with George-Thorogood style electric guitar, and his verses were a bit different:

When I was a cowboy, out on the western Plains (x2)
I made a half a million, pullin on the bridle reins.
Come-a-cow...

We fought the biggest battle, was ever on the western plains (x2) When me and a bunch of cowboys, we run into Jesse James
Come-a-cow...

Well me and a bunch of cowboys, we run into Jesse James (x2) You know them bullets they was a fallin, just like a shower of rain.

When I was a cowboy....etc.

W-O

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: GUEST,Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 07:13 PM

Most certainly concur with Greyeyes that this is one associated with Leadbelly.

The verses about the hardest battle ever on ... seem to be prefaced simply by "Oh, the hardest battle that was . . ."

Then, moving on,

If your house catches a fire and there ain't no water round,
Throw your jelly out the window, let the doggone shack burn down.

Come all you cowboys, now don't you want to go?
And meet the ,,,,,,,, on the range of the buffalo

What am I missing here? I know what it sounds like to me, but if anyone can supply the actual lyric here, I would be most grateful.

Shoh slaynt,

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: Stewie
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 07:44 PM

BB, according to Lomax, the line is 'See the rangers in the range [of the] buffalo' - transcription in booklet to 'Black Texicans' in the Deep River of Song series.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: Gary T
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 01:02 AM

Bobby Bob, Ian & Sylvia sang "And meet with the Lone Ranger..."

I don't know how well the Lone Ranger is known outside North America. He was a film and TV cowboy hero. He was the sole survivor of a group of Texas(?) Rangers who had been ambushed by outlaws. A local Indian, Tonto, helped nurse him back to health and noted that his colleagues were dead, saying, "You lone ranger, now." Our hero wore a black mask over his eyes and a white hat, and shot silver bullets. And of course, the show's theme music was part of the William Tell Overture. Ah, memories!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: GUEST,Seth( not a guest) from China(he's no guest)
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 08:09 AM

I had that Ian and Sylvia album back in the day, and yes, during the last three weeks, for no particular reason, I too have had the same verses(and lack of the same) keeping me awake. I also think they hi-jacked a Gene Pitney song(Twenty-four Hours from Tulsa) on this album, and there were some other strange touches. Good Luck finding the whole thing, let me know if you do. Seth

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: wes.w
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 09:02 AM

For us in the UK born in the 50s, the Lone Ranger (Kemo Sabbie) is an institution. He recently resurfaced in a TV advert, and many LR/Tonto jokes still circulate.
... and a hearty hiyo silver! ... wes

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN I WAS A COWBOY
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 12:09 AM

Alan Lomax has this in Folk Songs of N. America, quoted from Negro Folk Songs as Sung by Lead Belly, 1936.

When I was a cowboy, out on the western plains, (2)
I made a half a million, pullin' on the bridle reins.

Cho:
Come-a-cow-cow-yicky, come-a-cow-cow-yicky-yicky-yea.

O the hardest battle was ever on the western plains, (2)
When me an' a bunch of cowboys run into Jesse James. (CHO,)

When me an' a bunch of cowboys run into Jesse James (2)
The bullets was a-fallin' just like a show'r of rain. (CHO.)

O the hardest battle was ever on Bunker Hill, (2)
When me an' a bunch of cowboys run into Buffalo Bill. (CHO.)

When your house catch a-fire and they ain't no water roun' (2)
Throw your jelly out the window, let the doggone shack burn down. (CHO.)

("jelly" was Negro slang for body.)

The Range of the Buffalo is a separate song.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: toadfrog
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 12:39 AM

Those lyrics were on Leadbelly Memorial, Vol. II, Stinson SLP #19. That will be from the late '40's or early '50's. Characterized as "reissues from ole masters of the best of the hundreds of songs recorded from him."

Subject: Lyr Add: WESTERN PLAIN (Leadbelly)
From: GUEST,Cherome, Copenhagen
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 01:15 PM

Yes, what a great tune! Leadbelly was the best!

Here's with some additional verses - not all sung in all the
different versions I've heard, but these are all used...
Also the title differs on diverse versions...


Western Plain


When I was a cowboy, out on the western plains, (x2)
I made a half a million, pullin' on the bridle reins.

Cho x2:
Come-a-cow-cow-yicky, come-a-cow-cow-yicky-yicky-yea.

I rode up to my girls house, she was rocking in a rocking chair, (x2)
Ohh, you western cowboy, don't you leave me here.
(Cho)

O the hardest battle was ever on the western plains, (x2)
When me an' a bunch of cowboys run into Jesse James.
(Cho)

When me an' a bunch of cowboys run into Jesse James, (x2)
Ohh, the bullets was a-fallin', just like a show'r of rain.
(Cho)

O the hardest battle was ever on Bunker Hill, (x2)
When me an' a bunch of cowboys run into Buffalo Bill.
(Cho)

..here comes a little storytelling that leads to the next verse...

When your house catches a-fire and there ain't no water roun', (x2)
Throw your jelly') out the window, let the doggone shack burn down.
(Cho)

Come all you cowboys, don't you wanna go, (x2)
Come meet the lone Ranger, on the range of Buffalo.
(Cho)


')"jelly" was Negro slang for body.


Happy singin'!
Cherome

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: GUEST,PHPederson/folksinger
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 07:51 PM

#1 this song's name is "When the Boys were out on the Western plains"
#2 the tag at the end of the first stanza is:"I made a half a million swingin' on the driving range"
#3the third stanza is:If your house is on fire and there 'aint no water 'round (X2)
throw your trunk out th' window an' let the gol dang house burn down
#4 cow a ty yi yippie, cow a ty yi yippie yippie ay...
#5 the other lyrics were writen by Rory Gallager or somebody else

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: goatfell
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 09:46 AM

hamish imlach did this

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: Howard Jones
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 03:14 PM

Tom Kitching & Gren Bartley have just done a version of this on their new album "Boundaries", due out shortly on Fellside. Well worth a listen (as is the rest of the album)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: GUEST,Aaron Cunningham
Date: 20 May 09 - 03:42 PM

I stumbled across this for reasons I won't relate, but I thought I might fill in the "...here comes a little storytelling that leads to the next verse..." portion, which I'm recalling with a smile:

Me and the boys had it in for a man on the outskirts of town. And the boys had got drunk. And they had made the horses drunk. And all around, them bullets was a' walkin' and them .45s was a' talkin'. And this song is best regards for that man. And here's what they say...


Also, as the thread relates to the song's reference to "push[ing] your jelly out the window," I had been led to understand it as slang for a woman or, probably more directly, a woman's private parts... I don't claim that to be a definitive interpretation, but if you think about it in the context of this song and others (I'm thinking of Shake it, Break it, and Hang it on the Wall first and foremost), it makes a bit more sense than jelly as a reference to your own body.

My $.02

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: oombanjo
Date: 20 May 09 - 04:33 PM

I would play this on fretless banjo in e or f.cheers oombanjo

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I Was A Cowboy . . .
From: GUEST,a young memory
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 03:34 PM

When I was a cowboy out on the western range, me and a bunch of cowboys came up against Jesse James.

Now the sky was full of bullets and there ain't no clouds around...