Here's how I hear it. Note that in includes a version of the verse supplied by MtheGM and the verses are in a different order than those posted by Gerard (besides lots of other differences that I have boldfaced):


I'M BOUND TO FOLLOW THE LONGHORN COWS
As sung by Alan Lomax on "Cowboy Songs of the Old West" (reissued 2009)

1. I'm bound to follow the longhorn cows until I get too old.
It's well I work for wages, boys, and get my pay in gold.
My bosses they all like me well; they say I'm hard to beat.
Because I give 'em the bum stand-off, they know I've got the cheek.

Ki-yi-yippee, yippee-yay, Ki-yi-yippee, yippee-yay (after each verse)

2. Now I'm a Texas cowboy, just off the stormy plains.
My trade is girtin' saddles and pullin' bridle reins.
Oh, I can tip the lasso; it is with graceful ease.
I can rope a streak of lightnin' and ride 'er where I please.

3. Now if I had me a little stake, I soon would married be,
But another week and I must go; the boss said so today.
My girl must cheer up courage and choose some other one,
For I'm bound to follow the Lone Star Trail until my race is won.

4. It's when we're on the trail where the dust and the billows fly,
It's fifty miles from water and the grass is scorchin' dry;
The boss gets mad and ringy as you can plainly see
And I want to leave the trail, my boys, and an honest farmer be.

5. And when we get them bedded, boys, we think it's for the night,
Some horse will shake his saddle and give that herd a fright.
They'll rise up to their feet, my boys, and madly dash away.
Then it's movin' time; "To the lead, my boys," you'll hear some cowboy say.

6. And when we get them rounded up and quietened down again,
A dark cloud will rise in the west, and fire will play on their horns.
The boss will say, "Stay with 'em, boys; your pay will be in gold."
I'm bound to follow the longhorn steer until I get too old.

7. When I get in Kansas, I had a pleasant dream.
I dreamt I's down on the Trinity, down by that pleasant stream.
My true love right beside me, she'd come to go my bail,
But I woke up broken-hearted with a yearling by the tail.