Songs for cattle

Subject: Lyr Add: GETTIN' IN THE COWS (Charlie Maguire)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 02:07 PM

Here's a song that's available on my CD for Folk Legacy titled: ART THIEME--THAT'S THE TICKET. Charlie Maguire's grand song --- "Gettin' In The Cows" This is an udderly amazing song about dairy life. No bull! ---Sorry! (Heifer joke is better than none, I guess!! ;-)

I start my day in the sun-up dark,
Going down the lane to get the milk-cows up,
I've got a Holstein, a Jersey and a one-eyed steer,
An old brown cow that jumps fences like a deer.

The dew is on the ground and my feet are wet,
Got a light in my hand and a hat on my head,
Going' down to pasture to get my herd,
They are chewin' their cud and looking at the birds.

(Chorus--)
Getting' in the cows, shoo 'em in the barn,
Put 'em in the stanchions--turn the radio on,
Milk 'em all dry -- send 'em out again,
Wait a month on the dairy for the check to come in!!

Well, get up you cows---and I get 'em on the move,
Their udders are a-swingin' like water in balloons,
Take 'em to the barn and they know their place,
With the lead one first---and I close the gate.

(chorus)

I bring the cart around and I give 'em all some feed,
They lick their noses and flap their ears at me,
I put on the machine and it feels so good,
Just to let down the milk like a good cow should.

chorus

Folks say a cow's face is so fine,
But I see their back ends most of the time,
I work all summer to put hay in the mow,
I work all winter just to feed it to the cow.

The milking's all done---I've got the weather report,
Got my day all planned for my job of work,
Back to the pasture goes half of my life,
I'm going in the house and hug my wife.

-----------Chorus

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 02:11 PM

Actually that chorus ought to be sung after every TWO verses...

Sorry again!
To ere is human, to forgive, bovine!!

Art

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,patriot1314
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 02:18 PM

The Rangey Ribs I Bought From Mickey Doo
and....erm.....
Build me up Buttercup!

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 10:30 PM

Further info re "The Cowboy Lullaby " I posted above. A bit more digging suggests that there are alternative titles - "Desert Blue and Silver" and "The Roundup Song". In its original form it was a poem by Badger Clark - found here -
www.cowboypoetry.com/badger.htm#Lullaby
The song versions seem to stick to the first chorus throughout, and miss out some of the verses - which seems a shame - the more I read it, the better I like it. There's a nice close-harmony version by Theresa Coyle, Laura Partch, & Laurie Patton on a CD called "Desert Silver Blue". It can be heard by clicking "Roundup Lullaby" at
http://cdbaby.com/cd/desertdsilverblues

Ross

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,Elizabeth
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 09:00 AM

Great- and interesting thread, Emma B!
Would you know any recording of the first song you mentioned?

Sian, are there any literature on the songs for cattle in the Welsh tradiiton? Or do you have any references to works where suchsongs are mentioned?

As far as I know "kulning" ("cattle call"), is mostly used in Swedish. The Norwegian term is "lokk".

In the great book, "The songs of Elizabeth Cronin", discussed in another thread, there is a song called "Raghd-sa ó thuaidh leat, a bhó", a song sung by a milking-woman, wishing the cow safe from any harm.

Elizabeth

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Severn
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 10:02 AM

Elizabeth,


Of the "Chisholm Trail/Old Chisholm Trail" Woody Guthrie has recordings out on the 4-CD set "Some Folk" (Proper Box 115) and on "The Asch Recordings 1-4 on Smithsonian Folkways.

The RCA Vintage LP "Authentic Cowboys And Their Western Folksongs" (LPV 522) has "Haywire" Mac McClintock's version.

Saul Broudy sings one on "Cowboy Songs" (National Geographic Society 07786)

Oscar Brand sings an Off color version on "Bawdy Western Songs" (originally on LP on Audio Fidelity AFLP 1920) and Available on CD reissue from Mr. Brand himseld as is another version by Brand on "Bawdy songs Rides Again".

Tex Ritter's version is on CD on "High Noon" (Living Era CD AJA 5479)

Plenty more out there, as it's one of the most popular and most recorded of all Western songs. You could probably Google scores more.

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: sian, west wales
Date: 02 Jan 08 - 06:19 AM

Elizabeth, all the stuff I have on the subject (oxen songs) is in Welsh I'm afraid. I'll give it some thought; there may be some articles somewhere in English.

sian

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jan 08 - 11:06 AM

Ross, we've always called it Desert Silvery Blue. My sisters and I used to sing it. I have posted the lyrics, as we learned them in Western Colorado and Wyoming, a couple of times and they are also in the DT under that title. Here's the ABC and/or link to a MIDI of the TUNE for it.

Also, don't know why I didn't think of this earlier. I can still copy and send out CDs of old cowboy 78s which my brother recorded as noted in THIS THREAD. I may be a bit slow in getting them done as I will have to do them on a weekend, but if anyone is interested, please send me a PM with your addy.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,Elizabeth
Date: 02 Jan 08 - 02:11 PM

Thanks Severn.

And thank you Sian. The references you have for Welsh litterature would also be of interest.

Elizabeth

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,Elizabeth
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 12:26 PM

Sian, could you give me more details on that Welsh milkmaid call?

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 04:54 PM

I grew up raising beef cattle on our ranch and can't recall any animal I ever encountered that could carry a tune, nor really appreciate the nuances of a good song. I also don't remember ever composing any songs celebrating one of them, though I was fond of a couple of my older animals (NO! Not THAT fond!).

That aside, the thread brings back an old argument from the coffee house days of the 1950's. When Jimmy Rodgers did "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine," which I believe he gleaned from The Weavers, it was said, by the self-appointed guardians of folk purism, to have been based on an old Irish lament for a dead cow. Surely, someone out there knows the truth of this.

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Severn
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 12:51 AM

Yes. I have a recording of it by Ed McCurdy.

See Ocscar Brand in concert and he'll probably tell the tale of hearing it at a party he attended with Pete seeger and Leadbelly way back when and hearing Leadbelly try to forge it into something new rhythmically in the cab on the way home. From that recasting of the tune. the Weavers put new words to it and the rest was history.Brand in the stelling sings both songs. Oscar and Pete and Leadbelly were there at the creation. I've heard him tell the tale a couple of times in concert.

I don't know if Brand recorded the story on one of his own recordings, but I heard it on a tape I found once ad a yard sale of highlights of a benefit concert put on in washington DC by the World Folk Music Assn. who tend to be more nostalgic for the singer-songwriters and the Kingston Trio/Limelighters version of folk than the FSGW.

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: sian, west wales
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 05:44 AM

Elizabeth, it's called Cainc yr Odryddes (Tune of the Milkmaid) and can be found here. It's from a Iolo Morgannwg manuscript, circa 1800. Words mean, "Hai, how how (just a 'call') Brothen (cow's name) to the farmyard, Hai how how Brothen to the farmyard: Hai how how, Little
Brothen, Little Brothen; Hai how how, Hai how how, hai how how, Brothen to the farmyard; Stand, o stand, stand, o stand, stand, o stand! Brothen to the farmyard, Brothen to the farmyard"

(Brilliant stuff, eh?)

Second verse, same as the first, a little bit louder and a little bit replacing next cow's name for 'Brothen', in this case, "Seren" ('Star')

sian

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Artful Codger
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 07:02 AM

What about this song Peter Bellamy used to sing: "Down the Mooer (Through the Heifer)"?

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,Elizabeth
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 09:31 AM

Thanks a million, Sian!

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Cool Beans
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 09:13 AM

Moove It On Over (Hank Williams)

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Artful Codger
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 04:00 PM

Is "Lowlands, lowlands, low" about cow pastures?

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Genie
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 12:44 PM

Cow Patty (Jim Stafford)

Then there's Ten Thousand Goddam Cattle

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Genie
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 01:02 PM

Isn't there a song called "A Pretty Maid Milking Her Cow"?


A few more udder classics:

Duke Ellington: "Mooed Indigo" (That's what the cow did after she swallowed some blue dye.)
Glen Miller: "I'm In The Moo'd For Love"
Percy French: "Abdullah Bull Bull, Emir"?
Blondie: "Cow Me"
Kate Smith: "When The Moo Comes Over The Mountain"

Then there's that bawdy folk song "The Lobster," with the refrain that ends "Never let your bullocks dangle in the dust!"

And don't forget "The Bull At Kirriemuir" (sp?)

And "After The Bull (Is Over)"

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 01:19 PM

as ah was walkin doon the road
ah saw a coo....
.....a bull be goad

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 01:20 PM

daisy, daisy
give me your answer doo



or is that about pigeons

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,rich raja-aho
Date: 06 Sep 13 - 03:33 PM

if anyone is near newcastle and gateshead, there used to be a lovely bloke on the folk club circuit called rag time kev - wrote a tune called "mad cow jumping" as I recall...

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: mg
Date: 06 Sep 13 - 08:38 PM

Here is one of mine about a dairy maid from Switzerland..tune is Richard Baker.

My name is Frieda Schiller and I am a dairy maid
With eggs and cream and buttermilk ja that is how I'm paid
I take my goods to market and sometimes to the store
When the train comes to Chehalis then I hope to sell some more

The lilac trees are blooming now in pretty little dells
You can tell the cows are coming home by the tinkling of their bells
When twilight falls they're in their stalls happy and content
And I am in my milkhouse where my time is often spent

You'll never see a fever here a fly can not be found
And hired men scoop up the mess before it hits the ground
You ask me why I work so hard and I will tell you this
I do because I ought to and I do because I'm Swiss

When the Skookumchuck is rising and overflows its banks
I take my cows to higher ground and pause there and give thanks
For two strong arms and dairy farms and grass on which they graze
And rivers deep enough to flood and calm and peaceful days

----

Did someone mention wait till the cows come home...

what'll you do if the cow's in the clover

highland widow's lament..once I had twa score o kye..feeding on yon hills sae high

pirate one..lassie ye've a peaceful hame and cattle ye hae ten can ye no live a lawful life and live wi' lawful men

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Eldergirl
Date: 07 Sep 13 - 03:07 AM

Packie Byrne's "Life of a Drover" has verses about keeping the cattle happy as they travel on the road to market. Think there's a thread on this song elsewhere. Can't recall any of lyrics except ' and I've travelled this country all over ' which is probably not much help, sorry, :( e.

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,gutcher
Date: 07 Sep 13 - 04:10 AM

My outbye grannie called her 2 milking cows home with the call caa-pria, caa-pria, caa-pria. My friend called his milking herd home with the call caa-leddy, caa-leddy, caa-leddy. Leddy may have been lady, as to pria this may be gaelic from the time not so very far back when gaelic was spoken in South West Scotland, I must consult my gaelic speaking friend to see if pria has meaning in that tongue.

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: AnneMC
Date: 07 Sep 13 - 06:07 AM

And this a lovely Scottish ballad about cattle droving:

The Drover Road to Amulree 
(David Wilkie of Celtic Cowboys band)
      
The wind pushed the herd along, on the wings of an ancient song
Through passes and rivers went cattle and men
And in the worst of the weather, they slept on the heather
Headed south on the old way, or mountain through glen

Before they laid down the steel rails and blocked off the cattle trails
The hardships were plenty and the pleasures were few
But he walked the hills so wild and free on the way to Amulree
Then he got what he could when the droving was through

So come along then to the small glen, by the old inn,on the river bend
Out on the roads, where he wanted to be
Highland men off to battle, drovers drivin' their cattle
On the Drover Road to Amulree
                                         
Then he grew older and tired, his life uninspired
And he'd wait for the black herds that never came by
But it would not end in an old chair, all alone or in despair
That was no way for a drover to die

They found him face down on the cold ground,
On the old road that led from town
Days passed till they knew that he'd gone away
Instead of sitting by the old stove, he set off on his last drove
And died in the tracks of a long bye-gone day

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 25 - 03:30 AM

A sort of kulning from a minority in China:

Tongling niu ge

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,cnd
Date: 24 Jun 25 - 07:29 AM

There's always Stringbean's classic Herding Cattle (In A Cadillac CoupDeVille)

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Jack Campin
Date: 24 Jun 25 - 01:59 PM

The Chinese cattle song post was me with my cookie temporarily lost. I got the link from David Badagnani's spectacularly knowledgeable traditional Chinese music group on FB.

It uses very similar melodic shapes to kulning. Over thousands of years, the songs have been formed by the preferences of cows rather than humans.

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Jun 25 - 11:28 PM

cows like music, too.

Some years back one of our school-age musicians was practicing her clarinet in the morning at a festival & the cows in the next paddock came over to listen!

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 25 Jun 25 - 01:31 AM

highland widow's lament..once i had twa score of kye feeding on the hills so high

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 25 - 02:00 PM

Here's one written by my father that importantly involves a cow.

Lyr Add: NOTICE TO MARINERS (John Dwyer)

NOTICE TO MARINERS -- John Dwyer, 1974

Come all you Northwest sailors, who cruise on Puget Sound,
And listen to my story, for well it will astound;
'Tis of a ferry captain, who ventured forth one day,
And of the fate befell him, as he sailed on the bay.

The ferry left Seattle, 'twas on a foggy day,
The captain had no worries, for well he knew the way;
He headed 'cross the water, where finny things abound,
And set his course for Bremerton, across famed Puget Sound.

He left Seattle Harbor, and passed Duwamish Head,
Past Alki on the port side, he westerly did head;
And now 'twas open water, across to Orchard Point,
Through fog as thick as chowder, the ferry's bow did point.

Now all good skippers have a trick, who sail these waters 'round,
And when the fog is thickest, 'tis then they steer by sound;
Full several times a minute, their whistle loud they blow,
And by the echo bouncing, when land is close they know.

The ferry neared Rich Passage. a place of rocks and shoals,
And narrow as an hourglass, as past Point White she goes,
The captain slowed the ferry, and not to run aground,
He blew upon his whistle, and listened for the sound.

Now, a farmer on Point Glover, across the neck from White,
Had tied his cow that foggy morn, upon lush grass to bite;
So several times a minute, the ferry's whistle blew,
And as the captain listened, the echo came back "Moo!"

The captain turned the vessel, still steering by the sound,
And guided by that silly cow, the ferry ran aground;
So all you Northwest sailors, give listen to me now,
And when you cruise on Puget Sound, don't navigate by cow!

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,Topaz
Date: 26 Jun 25 - 11:44 AM

"On yonder hill there stood a coo, It's no there noo, it must have shifted,"

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Jun 25 - 02:16 AM

Our Andy’s gone with cattle now –
Our hearts are out of order
With drought he’s gone to battle now
Across the Queensland border

He’s left us in dejection now
Our thoughts with him are roving
It’s dull on this selection now
Since Andy went a-droving

Who now shall wear the cheerful face
In times when things are blackest
And who shall whistle round the place
When Fortune frowns her blackest

Oh, who shall cheek the squatter now
When he comes round us snarling
His tongue is growing hotter now
Since Andy crossed the Darling

The gates are out of order now
In storms the ‘riders’ rattle
For far across the border now
Our Andy’s gone with cattle

Poor Aunty’s looking thin and white
And Uncle’s cross with worry
And poor old Blucher howls all night
Since Andy left Macquarie

Oh may the showers in torrents fall
And all the tanks run over
And may the grass grow green and tall
In pathways of the drover

And may good angels send the rain
On desert stretches sandy
And when the summer comes again
God grant ’twill bring us Andy.

Henry Lawson

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Jun 25 - 04:55 AM

Come all you old time cowboys and listen to my song
But please do not grow weary I'll not detain you long
It's concerning some wild cowboys who did agree to go
To spend one summer pleasantly of the trail of the buffalo.

I found myself in Griffin in the spring of eighty three
When a well known famous drover come walking up to me
Says "How do you do young fellow? And how would you like to go
And spend one summer pleasantly on the trail of the buffalo?"

I being out of work right then to the drover I did say
"Going out on the buffalo road depends upon your pay
If you pay good wages and transportation to and fro,
I thinks to myself I'll go with you to the hunt of the buffalo."

"Of course I'll pay good wages and transportation too
If you agree to work for me until the season's through
But if you do get homesick and try to run away
You'll starve to death out on the trail and also lose your pay."

With all his flattering talking he signed up quite a train
Some ten or twelve in number strong able bodied men
Out trip it was a pleasant one as we hit the westward road
Until we crossed old Boggy Creek in old New Mexico.

And there our pleasures ended and our troubles all begun
A lightning storm it hit us and it made the buffalo run
We got all full of stickers from the cactus that did grow
And the outlaws watched to pick us off in the hills of Mexico.

Our working season ended and the drover would not pay
"You et and drunk too much and so you're all in debt to me!"
But the cowboys never had heard of such a thing as bankrupt law
So we left that drover's bones to bleach on the plains of buffalo.

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Jun 25 - 12:00 PM

I think that any moosic would do

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 27 Jun 25 - 07:48 PM

My family has been involved with cattle for generations.
Mostly, Herford or Black Angus ... but, more recently some "Simental" with their massive briskcut. Enjoy the "singing in the meadow".

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ficr60AcDws

Sincerely,
Gargkyle

Hundreds of thousands, miles of grass we humans cannot eat ... but cattle do ... plants/animals/humans what a delightful relationship!

Subject: THE MORPETH BULL - Graham Bell ~2023
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 28 Jun 25 - 10:12 AM

THE MORPETH BULL - Graham Bell ~2023

Historically the local breed of Northumberland is the Dairy Shorthorn.
In 2009 the new Sanderson Arcade arcade in Morpeth commissioned the statue of a bull to go at the entrance.
But the sculptor chose an Aberdeen Angus as the model.

This is Graham's humorous take on it.
;) Graham is field officer for the UK Shorthorn Society.

https://youtu.be/bdLdwpKBDJM?t=1m15s
,,, skip back to the start to hear the story.

Subject: BREEDING A BETTER SHORTHORN - Graham Bell -2016
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 28 Jun 25 - 10:14 AM

BREEDING A BETTER SHORTHORN - Graham Bell -2016

Poem on Facebook.
I've not heard him do it as a song yet.
www.facebook.com/100057767825079/videos/1397136613659322/

Subject: THE AI SONG - Graham Bell - 2020
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 28 Jun 25 - 10:16 AM

THE AI SONG - Graham Bell - 2020

Graham Bell [who works for Genus] with a song of his own about artificial insemination (cattle that is) with a George Formby influence.

www.facebook.com/Frodshamfolkclub/videos/2530699403863278/

Subject: THE BALLAD OF THE BLUE GREY BULLOCK - Graham Bell
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 28 Jun 25 - 10:17 AM

THE BALLAD OF THE BLUE GREY BULLOCK - Graham Bell - 2020

at The Bridge Folk Club, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
(Written & performed by Graham)
,,,we can learn a lesson from what happens to Geordie in this grand song from Graham.
www.facebook.com/100057571355171/videos/978573699191787/

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,paperback
Date: 28 Jun 25 - 11:40 AM

Gargoyle:
He causeth the grasse to grow for the cattell, and herbe for the
seruice of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth:)

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Jun 25 - 01:04 PM

The Spotted Cow, sung by Harry Cox https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YauMrpadwU0

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: GUEST,paperback
Date: 28 Jun 25 - 01:42 PM

Sandman, that's a good one pard. When the corn is in the garden they stray

Ottis Dewey "Slim" Whitman Jr. sings Doie Hensley "Tex" Owens' Cattle Call

Subject: RE: Songs for cattle
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Jun 25 - 03:48 PM

Once apon a time there was a little white bull
Very sad because he was a little white bull
Little white bull
All the black bulls called him a coward
Just cos he was white
Only black bulls go to the bull ring
Only black bulls fight
When he asked his mama if the little white bull
Little white bull
Ever had a chance of turning black
His mama said
You silly little bull, you're a pretty little bull
You're my little bull
So please dont ask me why little bull
You just ain't black
But this did not satisfie that little white bull
Little white bull
He was a eception to that little white rule
Little white rule
Everyday alone in the meadows
He'd find this to charge
Till one day he really imagined that his horns were large
Bold as brass right then and then the little white bull
Little white bull
Quickly found the nearest road to town!
And people said
What a funny little bull
What a fluffy little bull
Hes our little bull
He marched along a proud little bull
And hit the town
It was he day of the bull fight
All the town were there
Waiting to see the famous Matador
Trumpet the sound of the fan fair
Tun ta la tun ta!
Out from the throats of the crowd came a mighty Roar!
Into the ring to the shout of a great olay
Olay!
Came the parade all prepared for a mighty pray
Matadors and Picidors and Toridors!
And who do think aswell?
Trotting right behind them came
The little white bull
Little white bull
How they laughed out loud to see
The white bull
Little white bull
Trotting round the giant arena with his head up high
Till the Matador in the center caught his tiny eye
Charging right up to him went the little white bull
Little white bull
Charging twice and charging once again
The Matador cried Turret little bull
He's not a little bull, your a brave little bull
Your gonna be a great little bull
The best in spain!
Then the crowd all shouted turret little bull
Your not a little bull, your a brave little bull
Your gonna be a great little bull
The best is spain!
So if you got a little bull
Thats a white little bull
It's quite possible
That it might be the bull
Thats the best
In
Spain
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Lionel Bart / Tommy Steele / Michael Pratt