Kendall mentioned this song in another thread, and said it was by Tom Russell. It does appear on Russell's Cowboy Real album, but I saw somewhere that the lyrics were by Charles Badger Clark (1863-1957) and the tune by Russell (I thought the tune was traditional, "Annie Laurie"). The Harry Fox Agency agrees with Kendall, and attributes it to Tom Russell.

Anybody know for sure? Do we have correct, complete lyrics?

Ed Trickett recorded the song on his Echo on the Evening Tide," introduced by one verse of "Annie Laurie." The lyrics are similar to those posted above, but not exactly the same. The tune is reminiscent of "Annie Laurie," but it's certainly not the same tune. My MP3 says the tune is traditional, lyrics by Badger Clark - but is that so?

The lyrics scan to the "A" part of the tune for "Annie Laurie," but I can't match the "B" part to the lyrics.

-Joe-