I grew up in a western ranching area in California. Tumbleweeds were common to see; the wind rolling them along the ground and causing their seeds to disperse. I had always loved the sound of The Sons of the Pioneers, most particularly I loved the two songs mentioned in this thread. Imagine my chagrin at learning that the actual common name for the tumbleweed is Russian Thistle, a weed which likely hitched a ride in an early shipment of flax seed to South Dakota in the 1880's. I doubt you would have found tumbleweeds anywhere in the west prior to that time. It quickly became so widespread people thought it had been here forever.

To heck with it; I still like the song.