This song was written by Badger Clark and was a poem entitled The Border Affair. It was first published in the Pacific Monthly---June 1907. Later, it was naturally included in Clark's fine collection of songs called Sun And Saddle Leather. In 1925 Bill Simon of Prescott, Arizona was the one who fit the generally sung tune to Badger Clark's words. Simon rarely, if ever, was given credit for the tune. Simon wrote it out and sent it to Clark asking permission to use it on a network radio program. In 1972 Bill Simon recorded his own version of the song on an LP put out by the Arizona Friends Of Folklore. (N. Ariz. University--Flagstaff).

(from John White's great book Git Along Little Doggies (Songs and songmakers of the American west). University of Illinois Press--Urbana, IL)

Art Thieme