THE DYING COWBOY (TAKE MY BRIDGEWORK BACK TO MOTHER)
Words by Ted Fetter, music by Richard Lewine.
From the musical play "The Girl from Wyoming" with dialog by John Van Antwerp
First performed 1938; published by Samuel French, 1941.

A cowboy he lay dyin'
As cowboys often will,
And he called his pals around him
And he said, "I'm feelin' ill,
You can have my boots and saddle,
You can have my fancy vest,
But the only thing I ask you
Is this final last request:

Take my bridgework back to mother,
Lay it gently in her hand,
When my mother sees my bridgework
She is sure to understand.
I'm a dyin' cowboy,
How can you refuse?
Take my bridgework back to mother,
It is something she can use."

And when his song had ended,
As songs so often do,
The dyin' cowboy died
And his friends to him were true:
They rode in all directions
Till they found his poor motherrrr {accent on last syllable]
And they said, "Your son is dead, ma'am,
But his final last words were:

Take my bridgework back to mother, etc.