These are the verses I've been using for some time; I dropped verse two:


By West-Coast singer Genny Haley
Circa 1960's
Adapted by Charlie Ipcar in 2001
Tune: Plains of the Buffalo
Key: Cm(5/Gm)
The Ballad of the Cowpuncher


I am an old cow-puncher, I punch them cows so hard,
I have me a cow-punching bag, set up in my back yard,
That bag is made of leather, and so are cows of course,
When I get tired of punching cows, I go out and punch me horse.

One day as I was punching cows, as all good cowboys do,
A well-known band of ru-st-lers, came rustling into view,
I said, "Hello, how are you, and what might bring you here?"
They said, "If it's all right with you, we'll rustle up a steer?"

I said, "Oh, no, kind sirs, that can never be,
For I am the best cow-puncher, upon the whole prairie,
And I would never have it said I gave you a bum steer,
But if you will sit down a spell, I'll rustle up some beer."

I've been lonesome in the saddle ever since my old horse died,
And sometimes, when it's late at night, I dream she's by my side,
Them nightmares keep me up all night and caused me for to roam,
I am an old cowpuncher and a long, long way from home.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble