Dicho - I think your translation is too literal. If you read the Spanish with a bit of a "loose" translation it is pretty close to the English words. Since most Texas Cowboys spoke Spanish I am guessing they would have used a slang version of the language as opposed to the school book type. At least my experience with cowboying was anything but a scholar's version.

I'd also argue that any of the above songs could be claimed by anyone would be untrue. They were words and tunes put together by hundreds of Cowboys pushing cows for a living. I can remember my Dad singing these things with similar verses that he had learned from some of the older hands who had direct links to these guys. None of them had much of an education from school but they all knew the trail and its life. Riding night herd one had to be able to sing - it kept the cattle calm and the rider thinking of other than the hard life of the trail. It also allowed for the replacement watch to know where you were at.

Spud Murphy would also be one to talk to about these things.

Steve