Songs about Horses

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,Helen
Date: 03 Aug 08 - 02:41 PM

'The Carter' has been recorded by Dave Goulder on 'Stone, Steam and Starlings', amongst others.
There are some nice songs about working horses, including 'Heavy Horses' by Robin Laing, and 'Clydesdale's Dream' by Ian Tupling.

Subject: Lyr Add: BLOSSOM, THE MINING HORSE (John Warner)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Aug 08 - 10:34 AM

I don't think anyone has mentioned the horse songs composed by John Warner of Australia. Here's one of my favorites:

BLOSSOM, THE MINING HORSE
words: © John Warner 9/3/93; recorded on PITHEAD IN THE FERN
tune: Margaret Walters/Kim Poole 9/3/93

Now Blossom was a mining horse,
    Among the coal and slack,
Who hauled the skips with all her force,
    Get out of that, gee up you beggar,
    Come here, gee off, whoa back.

Wonthaggi miners all did know ...
What happened when Bloss refused to go ...

Now Bloss came out of the bord one day ...
Pulled to a stand and blocked the way ...

She had a full and heavy load ...
Of skips which blocked the wheeling road ...

Now Harry the wheeler cursed and cried ...
But Bloss dug in whatever he tried ...

With ears laid back our Bloss stood fast ...
No man behind in the bord got past ...

So Mac, who fired the shots, did say ...
"Let's eat, we could be here all day" ...

But, as the lads got out their lunch ...
The roof caved in with a deadly crunch ...

Our Blossom saved the miners all ...
She stood between them and the fall ...

And when the rescue team dug through ...
The lads were alive and Blossom too ...

Which goes to show, now and again ...
The mining heroes weren't all men ...

Unfortunately Warner's CD THE SEA AND THE SOIL is long out of print and it contains the beautiful "Horses of the World" and the related song "Farrier's Trade." Maybe some of our friends in Oz have already transcribed these two songs and will post the lyrics.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,Mike B.
Date: 03 Aug 08 - 12:45 AM

These may be a reach, but they do make reference to horses -

"Love Minus Zero" (Bob Dylan)
"That Song About The Midway" (Joni Mitchell)
"Bonny Light Horseman" (Eliza Carthy & Nancy Kerr)

There's also the famous Stephen Foster song "Camptown Races" - and a little tune from the early 60s that starts out "A horse is a horse, of course, of course ...".

Subject: Lyr Add: I'VE TAKEN THE NAGS AS I'VE FOUND THEM
From: Arkie
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 07:15 PM

And here is the second:

I'VE TAKEN THE NAGS AS I'VE FOUND THEM

I've taken the nags as I've found them,
I've 'eeled and I've peeled in my time;
I've had my pickin of remounts,
An' four o' the lot was prime.
One wa a 'arf caste devil,
One was a 'orse but in name,
One I 'arf 'sited in Ogdan, Utah,
One fell in a ditch and went lame.

When I was a young one at Riley,
Tender as 'ell to begin,
Annie Austin they gave me,
And Annie was clever as sin.
Jumper they classed her at Riley,
Said she could go six feet nine;
She went up to a jump and came down on her rump,
Nurses are not in my line.

Then I was given a draft horse,
Schooled in the West Riding Hall;
Splendid four-gaiter they called him…
A walk, trot, stumble, and fall.
He wasn't so agile and supple,
But yet he could manage somehow
To turn at a trot in a four-acre lot,
So now he is hitched to a plow.

I've applied tannic acid diluted
To places not mentioned in print,
I've tumbled and fallen as you have,
I've worn all my limbs in a splint.
But now I've a nice new remount,
And wonderful things he can do;
So because you're my friend and have something to spend
I'd like to sell him to you.

Subject: Lyr Add: I LEARNED ABOUT HORSES FROM HIM
From: Arkie
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 07:14 PM

There are a couple of parodies of Kipling's poem "The Ladies" that have not made this list yet.

Here is the first:

I LEARNED ABOUT HORSES FROM HIM
by George B. German (modeled on Kipling's The Ladies)

'Twas on the Horse Shoe in old Arizona
That I rode my first bucking outlaw.
He could throw any man on the rancho,
And how that caballo could paw.
Well, I lays down my Spanish guitaro,
It was money I needed, by jim.
I hoists myself into the saddle,
And I learned about horses from him.

Then I trails to a ranch in the rimrock,
Where broncos are thicker than men.
There was one needed tamin' right badly.
I needed a job there and then.
So I curls up my maguey so neatly,
And I hangs my old pack on a limb.
Then I slips through the bars quite discreetly,
And I learned about horses from him.

Next I wanders down into Sonora,
Where horses are horses, you bet.
There was good ones, had ones, and tough ones,
And some of them darned hard to get.
A senorita wanted one for a plaything,
A black filled with hall to the brim.
She begs me with a sweet little smile-o,
And I learned about horses from him.

Then I drifts on up into Texas,
Where horses are wild, rough, and game,
And I says to the pinto I'm ridin',
"I'll get me a good one to tame."
So I takes to the hills and the canyons,
And I waits till I'm haggard and grim.
Then my loop settles down on a picture,
And I learned about horses from him.

Well, I rides up into Wyoming,
For I'd heard of a bad one called Bear,
And I heard they were offering money
To the guy that got on and stayed there.
Well, I found him, a bleary-eyed loco,
With ears that were pointed and thin.
And from the time I stepped in his middle
I learned about horses from him.

Then I stopped in Cheyenne for the rodeo.
To win me some money I tried.
A horse you all know, name was Steamboat,
That's the bugger I drew for to ride.
Now, something says, "Mister, you're crazy!"
But my bankroll says, "Don't you give in!"
Three jumps from the time the gates opened
I'd learned about horses from him.

Now, I've heard a lot about horses,
And I've rode 'em both large and small.
Sometimes I got on and I stayed there,
Sometimes what a hell of a fall!
But they's one horse I never have ridden,
It's Conscience they call it, by grim.
But I reckon when we have the last roundup
I'll learn about that horse from Him.

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 12:08 PM

JeffB, you have intrigued me with your reference to 'the lovely flowing melody' of the Carter. Is there anyway you could post that melody or a link to it? I agree with you that it is an unusual and pleasing song.

(you mean nobody dies of love it it? or leaves the old sod?)

Needless to say, when I googled 'The Carter' MIDI, all I got was a jillion references to the Carter Family.

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: Gray D
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 08:26 AM

Hugh Lupton and Chris Wood collaborated on a CD called The Horses and the song that Chris Wood sings is really something to hear. Saw them perform it live at St Donats Storytelling Festival a few years ago and I have to admit there was a tear in the eye by the end.

Can't find an online version to give you a sample, though.

Gray D

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: topical tom
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 12:38 AM

Too late at night, I guess!The actual title is "Them Bareback Riders".Sorry for screwing these posts up!

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: topical tom
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 12:36 AM

The complete lyrics to "Colorado Horses":

http://www.lyricstime.com/ledoux-chris-them-bareback-horses-lyrics.html

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: topical tom
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 12:20 AM

Sorry, Adrien! The title of the song is "Colorado Horses".

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: topical tom
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 12:18 AM

audio clip here

Subject: Lyr Add: ONE-TRICK PONY (Paul Simon)
From: Sorcha
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 11:49 PM

ONE-TRICK PONY
Paul Simon

He's a one-trick pony
One trick is all that horse can do
He does one trick only
It's the principal source of his revenue
And when he steps into the spotlight
You can feel the heat of his heart
Come rising through

See how he dances
See how he loops from side to side
See how he prances
The way his hooves just seem to glide
He's just a one-trick pony (that's all he is)
But he turns that trick with pride

He makes it look so easy
He looks so clean
He moves like God's
Immaculate machine
He makes me think about
All of these extra moves I make
And all of this herky-jerky motion
And the bag of tricks it takes
To get me through my working day
One-trick pony

Hes a one-trick pony
He either fails or he succeeds
He gives his testimony
Then he relaxes in the weeds
He's got one trick to last a lifetime
But that's all a pony needs
(That's all he needs)

He looks so easy
He looks so clean
He moves like God's
Immaculate machine
He makes me think about
All of these extra movements I make
And all of this herky-jerky motion
And the bag of tricks it takes
To get me through my working day

One-trick pony, one-trick pony
One-trick pony, one-trick pony
One-trick pony (take me for a ride)
One-trick pony

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 11:42 PM

I suppose it is a bit like cheating with a copy of Glenn Ohrlin's The Hell-Bound Train in hand, but here are a few from that treasure of cowboy lore.

I am going to include just those songs where the horse is the main character or has at least a top supporting role - horses with names or at least great stories to tell! I don't think I have listed any that have already been mentioned.

Windy Bill
Bonny Black Bess
Walking John
He Rode The Strawberry Roan (Yes, I think it might owe something to a song already mentioned)
Tipperary
Outlaw Dunny
Midnight
Starlight
The Bronco Buster
My Old Pinto Pal

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CARTER
From: GUEST,JeffB
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 06:14 PM

And there's Creeping Jane of course, and I would also like to put in a vote for The Carter, which I first heard on Bonnet and Shawl. I've since come across another verse, the 3rd in the version below, which is the way I sing it :-

1    When I was a young man I followed the team,
      and my only delight was in keeping them clean.
    With brushes and curries I showed their bright colour
      and the name that they gave me was Hearty Good Fellow.

2    As ever in the evening when I go to my bed
      the thoughts of my horses run into my head -
    and I rise in the morning for something to eat
      just as soon as I do get my boots on my feet.

3    The first was a white horse as white as the milk,
      and the next was a grey horse as soft as the silk,
    and the next was a brown horse as sleek as a mole,
      and the next was a black horse like diamonds did show.

4    When we goes a-driving out on the highway
      if the load it be light then I feeds 'em on hay,
    and I gives 'em some water when we come to a pond,
      and then after we've drunk boys move steadily on.

5    My feet they grow weary a-walking by their side
      so I says to myself - you must get up and ride.
    And as I was riding I made this new song,
      so now you must learn it and sing it along.

6    Repeat 1

Can the usual suspects know or find out anything on this, I wonder? I think it's a fine song to sing, partly because of the lovely flowing melody, but also because of the words - the simple love of a simple man for his horses. So I suppose someone will now prove it was a stage song from late Vic music hall.

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 03:16 PM

"I Love to See Those Horses Race" ........ John Hills
"Races at the Depot" .......W.Miller/John Hills
"Following the Old 'Oss"............Tony Deane

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: bankley
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 01:53 PM

"Beer for my Horses".... Willie Nelson

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: kendall
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 01:18 PM

Plantonio the pride of the plains.
Billy Venero

These are quite long so I won't post the lyrics unless someone requests them.

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: topical tom
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 12:16 PM

Another one is The Silver Stallion as sung by The Highwaymen

[Lyrics]

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: Arkie
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 11:17 AM

Beer, the song you mentioned is "The Blizzard" and I think Harlan Howard is the writer.

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 11:00 AM

Beer, with respect to 'John, must you lend your fine horse for the fight?' - that's the entire song. The matter is not resolved.

Joseph de Culver City - I liked the poem 'Mother Country.'

Thanks to everybody who's posted. Such a variety of songs.

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: Beer
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 10:19 AM

Yes, and here is another on with Dan in it. Title escapes me at the moment. [THE BLIZZARD]

There's a blizzard coming on,
How I wish I was home.
My pony's lame and he can hardly stand.
Dan just think about that barn,
With it's hay so soft and warm..........and so on.


I think Jim Reeves sang it.

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,Marymac90
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 09:36 AM

Another song that features a horse named Dan is "Cool Water". The break goes as follows:

Keep a-movin' Dan. Don'cha listen to him, Dan.
He's a devil not a man, and he spreads the burning sands
with Water, cool, clear, water.

Happy trails...

Marymac

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: cptsnapper
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 08:43 AM

"Heavy Horses" by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: Beer
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 07:53 AM

If you like Garnet's "Small Victories" than you just gotta hear Brendan Nolan's "Old Ned".

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: open mike
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 05:40 AM

some very choice songs here. I love Garnet Rogers' "Small Victories". There is also a song (or poem) about a woman in australia who is working hard to keep the ranch.."ON A LONELY SELECTION." In the song, she milks cows and tends to horses.

many cowboy songs contain horses..

I RIDE AN OLD PAINT,
I LEAD AN OLD DAN
I'M GOING TO MONTANA
FOR TO THROW THE HOOLIHAN..

Also Mike Beck, who is a musician and horse-trainer, has a song about PATRICK, a horse that belonged to Bill Dorrance, the original horse whisperer.

and of course there is the song (rolling stones)

wild horses couldn't drag me away...

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: quokka
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 01:52 AM

One from schooldays:

Here comes Brumby Jack
Bringing the horses down the track
Hear them come as he swings them around
Keeps them together safe and sound

-This is the chorus, sorry can't remember the verses. Maybe some other Aussies could shed some light...

Cheers,
Quokka

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,Marymac90
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 01:50 AM

A couple more have come to my mind. One by Fred Small,
"The Heart of the Appaloosa" was about the Nez Perce people,
the horses that enabled them to travel through the
mountains, and the Cavalry Troops that cut them both down.

Another is by Lyle Lovett: "If I Had a Boat"

cho: If I had a boat, I'd go out on the ocean,
And if I had a pony, I'd ride him on my boat.
We could all .................................
Me upon my pony on my boat.

I'd better quit while I'm ahead, remembering 3 lines out of 4.

Happy trails.....

Marymac

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: Big Mick
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 08:12 PM

Dutch, are you referring to Michael Martin Murphey's "Wildfire"? Or was that later?

Mick

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: Beer
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 07:20 PM

I can't keep up to all these great responses so I'll just keep reading and you keep'em coming. Wish I could help Dutch. Maybe something by John Denver hitting that high note and all.

Subject: RE: Looking For old beautiful song
From: GUEST,Dutch
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 06:32 PM

Back in the early '80s when I was in Kodiak, Alaska, I heard a very nice song about riding my horse or riding with my friend or how my horse was my best friend. It was a beautiful medium slow song sung by a man with a very mellow voice and at one point in the song, he went up to a nice mellow high note. I called the station but they could not give me the name of song or singer and as half a joke he said maybe it was Cowboy Copas. The recording sounded newer than to be from Copas or that era. I wish I could find it. I hope someone can help.

Subject: RE: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 04:57 PM

A four legged friend, a four legged friend
He'll never let you down
He's honest and faithful right up to the end
That wonderful one two three four legged friend

From the film "Son Of Paleface" (1952)
Written by Jack Brooks, sung by Roy Rogers

I know an old lady who swallowed a fly,
She's dead, of course

Sung by Burl Ives

Subject: Lyr Add: MOTHER COUNTRY (John Stewart)
From: GUEST,Joseph de Culver City
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 03:53 PM

This one is not exactly all about a horse, but what a good one.




Title: MOTHER COUNTRY
Songwriter: John Stewart

There was a story in the San Francisco Chronicle that of course I forgot to save
But it was about a lady who lived in the 'good old days'
When a century was born and a century had died
And about these 'good old days' the old lady replied
"Why they were just a lot of people doing the best they could"
"Just a lot of people doing the best they could"
And then the lady said that they did it, "pretty up and walking good"

What ever happened to those faces in the old photographs
I mean, the little boys…….
Boys? . . . . . Hell they were men
Who stood knee deep in the Johnstown mud
In the time of that terrible flood
And they listened to the water, that awful noise
And then they put away the dreams that belonged to little boys

And the sun is going down for Mister Bouie
As he's singing with his class of nineteen-two
Oh, mother country, I do love you
Oh, mother country, I do love you

I knew a man named E.A. Stuart, spelled S.T.U.A.R.T.
And he owned some of the finest horses that I think I've ever seen
And he had one favorite, a champion, the old Campaigner
And he called her "Sweetheart On Parade"
And she was easily the finest horse that the good Lord ever made
But old E.A.Stuart, he was going blind
And he said "Before I go, I gotta drive her one more time"
So people came from miles around, and they stood around the ring
No one said a word
You know, no one said a thing
Then here they come, E.A. Stuart in the wagon right behind
Sitting straight and proud and he's driving her stone blind
And would you look at her
Oh, she never looked finer or went better than today
It's E.A. Stuart and the old Campaigner, "Sweetheart On Parade"
And the people cheered
Why I even saw a grown man break right down and cry
And you know it was just a little while later that old E.A. Stuart died

And the sun it is going down for Mister Bouie
As he's singing with his class of nineteen-two
Oh mother country, I do love you
Oh mother country, I do love you

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,Murray on Saltspring
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 03:14 PM

There was a pleasant sentimental song in a Roy Rogers film starting "Old Faithful, we've roamed the range together". Not folk, but gentle and quite memorable. About fifty years ago I suppose.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WONDERFUL GREY HORSE
From: Fergie
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 03:10 PM

What about this one?

THE WONDERFUL GREY HORSE

My horse he is white, although at first he was bay,
He took great delight in travelling by night and by day;
His travels were great, if I could the half of them tell,
He was rode in the garden by Adam the day that he fell.

When banished from Eden, my horse was losing his way,
From all his fatigues, no wonder that now he is gray;
At the time of the flood he was rode by mony a spark,
And his courage was good when Noah took him into the ark.

On Babylon plains he ran with speed for the plate-
He was hunted next day, it is said, by Nimrod the great;
After that he was hunted again in the chase of a fox,
When Nebuchadnezzar eat grass in the shape of an ox.

He conducted him home straightway into Babylon Town'
Where the king was restored once more and solemnly crown'd
He was with King Saul, and all his troubles went through,
And was with King David the day that Goliah he slew.

When he saw King David hunted about by King Saul,
My horse took his leave and bid farewell to them all,
He was with King Pharoah in Egypt when fortune did smile
He rode him very stately along the banks of the Nile.

He followed Moses who rode him through the Red Sea,
He then led him out, and he sensibly galloped away ;
He was with King Cyrus, whose name is in history found
And he rode on my horse at the taking of Babylon Town'

When the Jews remained in chains and mercy implored,
King Cyrus proclaimed again to have them restored ;
He was in Judea when Judas Maccebus the great,
Had rode on my horse, as ancient historians relate.

The poor captive Jews received these news with great joy,
My horse got new shoes and pursued his journey to Troy.
When the news reached Troy, with my horse he was found,
He crossed over the wall, and entered the city I'm told.

The city being in flames, by means of Hector's sad fate,
My horse took his leave, and there no longer would wait;
I saw him again in Spain, and he in full bloom,
With Hannibal the great, and he crossing the Alps into Rome

My horse being tall, and the top of the Alps very high,
His rider did fall, and Hannibal the great lost an eye;
My horse got no ease although his rider did fall,
He was mounted again by young Scipio who did him extol

On African's Plains he conquered that part of the globe.
My horse's fatigues would try the patience of Job ;
He was with Brian the Brave when the Munster men he
did command,
Who in thirty-six battles drove the vile Danes from our land

At the battle of Clontars he fought on Good Friday all day,
And all that remained my horse drove them into-the sea;
He was with King James when he reached the Irish shore.
But, alas! he got lame, when Boyne's bloody battle was o'er-

To tell the truth, for the truth I always like to tell.
He was rode by St Ruth the day that in Aughrim he fell ,
And Sarsfield the brave, at the siege of Limerick town,
Rode on my horse and crossed o'er the Shannon I'm told.

He was rode by the greatest of men at the famed Waterloo,
And Daniel O'Connell long sat on his back it is true,
To shake off the yoke which Erin long patiently bore-
My horse being /ill / he means to travel no more.

He is landed in Erin, in Kerry he now does remain,
The smith is at work to fit him with new shoes again;   
Place a good man on his back he is ready once more far the field.
And he never will stop till the Tories, he'll make them to yield.

From Here

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 02:00 PM

The Jez Lowe song is called 'Galloways' ! And Jon Harvison has a song about the modernisation of farming called 'Heavy Horses'.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 01:58 PM

"Guest Volgadon, could the title be Beaumont's Light Horse?"

Oddly enough, I think the title is Galloways.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: Mrrzy
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 01:14 PM

Ed McCurdy did a beautiful talking one about what horses think about us, how silly we are to take our shoes off every night and why do we play on the grass and not eat it, and so on...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: Beer
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 01:08 PM

leeneia I hope someone come in and knows the rest. Very interesting.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 12:38 PM

Here's one I learned in grade school. It originated in an eastern European country, but I don't remember which one.

John, must you lend your fine horse for the fight?
Beautiful horse, black as the night.
John, if you listen and do as I say,
you will be gay, riding away.

Hide your fine horse,
- black as the night -
Deep in the fields
Far out of sight.

Then when the fighting is over one day,
You will be gay, riding away.

=====
The idea that ordinary people would have their horses taken away to be in battle came as a shock to us.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: Arkie
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 12:25 PM

Other songs that come to mind.

Widdecombe Fair (Tam Pierce, Tam Pierce, lend me your gray mare)
Which brings to mind The Old Gray Mare Ain't what she used to be.
Old Paint (I ride an old paint and lead an old Dan)
Wild Horse (fiddle tune)
Run for the Roses (Dan Fogelberg)
Pony (Kasey Chambers)
Commanche (Johnny Horton)

Ballad of a Runaway Horse written by Leonard Cohen, sung by Jennifer Warnes & others. Would this one count? May be song alluded to earlier by Emmylou.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: Teribus
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:44 AM

And how could I have forgotten:

"Pawkie Paiterson's Auld Grey Yaud"

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: Teribus
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:43 AM

"The Story of Mongrel Grey" - Banjo Paterson

"The Horses of Ameland"

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: Beer
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:43 AM

Thanks for the invite Cats but I'm a little distance from you. Just outside Montreal Canada. I am still very interested as to how the melody goes.
Adrien

Subject: Lyr Add: DROVING WOMAN (Kev Carmody)
From: quokka
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:40 AM

I've found another one that most of you won't have heard of by indigenous Australian singer-songwriter Kev Carmody, called 'Droving Woman' from the album CANNOT BUY MY SOUL. This is a very powerful song about the death of a much-loved man while trying to break in a horse. (The horse bit is near the end,sends a chill down my spine when I hear it)

DROVING WOMAN

She buried him down on the edge of the town
Where the brigalow suckers on the cemetery creep
She stood with them children in a heavy brown gown
What you want you just can't always keep

"I'm sorry", I says, "I knew him so well,
Though your body is young you just never can tell
When the hand of fate rings the final death knell"
She just turned with the slightest of smiles

She says, "At the start well we knew it so hard
We were always dealt the severest of cards
Honeymoon spent droving Jamieson's stock
Through the wildest winter you've seen

Romantic notions of horses and land
They were soon dispelled as a fantasised dream
Watching cattle at night in the mid-winter cold
Turns a person both wiry and old

The flame of the breakast fire'd be dead
As the sun rose up he'd be miles up ahead
I'd be breaking the camp there and rolling the beds
While he fanned the stock wider for feed

When the weather turned sour with the onset of rain
And the truck bogged down to the axle mains
He'd move ahead with pack saddles and chains
And I'd wait in the mud by the road

With the blankets and canvas there hung out to dry
With nothing for heat 'cause you couldn't light a fire
With no stock permit for the forthcoming shire
The dog'd whimper in the winter wind rain

Cattle don't camp where they're sloshing in rain
They keep walking all night like a dog on a chain
He'd be red-eyed and weary with a pack horse gone lame
I'd sit miles behind in the mud

It was down through Charleville up to Julia Creek
Living on syrup and damper and salted corned meat
We had nothing but the 'roos and the mailman to meet
We'd move up and down with the rains

But them inland skies have the starriest of nights
With the dance of the fire throwing flickering lights
The beauty of its sunsets were a constant delight
I felt nature had let me intrude

The enormous vastness of them inland plains
Gives you a lonely contentment to which
you can't put a name
Its satisfied glow city folks seldom attain
They spend life on a right rigid rail

The kids got their schooling from the government mail
We posted their work at each cattle sale
They considered their learning a self-imposed jail
They'd rather help their father and fail

Early last month at the end of the dry
He was given a horse nobody could ride
Alert were his ears with a fire in his stride
He was young and his spirit was wild

To catch him each morning was an hour-long battle
We had to collar rope his near side to throw on the saddle
He'd bite and he'd strike, oh he made my nerves rattle
Pandemonium reigned with each ride

It was a hot summer's morning at the government bore
There was a stillness around that I'd never felt before
How could he know it was fate at his door
That was stealthily watchin' his moves

He mounted up quick taking slack from the reins
Grasped a full hand of hair from the horse's long mane
He'd just hit the saddle when the horse went insane
Churning dust in a frenzy of fear

The girth on the saddle let go at the ring
The surcingle slipped, it was impossible to cling
The horse felt it go, made a desperate fling
He was thrown to the length of the reins

I heard his spine snap like a 'roo shooter's shot
He'd busted his back on the concreted tough
Sickness and fear were the feelings I got
For the doctor was a six-hour drive

I looked at his face and his colour turned white
He turned slowly and said "I can't make it 'til night,"
My body is broken, I'm bleeding inside"
And the life slowly drained from his eyes

I'll sell up the plant and move here to town
Before the winter returns with a chill on the ground
For what I've just lost can seldom be found
I was blessed with the gentlest of men

Eventually the children will move to the East
But I couldn't stand the bustle of even a quiet city street
I'll stay in the scrub here where my heart really beats
For some dogs grow too old for change."

cheers
Quokka

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: Cats
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:37 AM

Beer, not yet. In think he intends putting it on the next one but if you want a copy pm me and I will sing it onto a tape or CD for you when we get back from Sidmouth and Bideford Festivals.. unless you are at either where you will find Jon in the New Tavern and me in the Middle Bar and both of us in the Middle Bar on Lifeboat night [Tuesday] when it will get sung.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,greycap
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:31 AM

How about EmmyLou Harris's 'Say a prayer for the cowgirl' and Waylon Jennings's 'The Union Mare and the Confederate Grey'?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: Beer
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:29 AM

Guest Volgadon, could the title be Beaumont's Light Horse?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: Beer
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:15 AM

Insane Beard that was a great laugh. Susan, Tickle Cove Pond is a favorite. Forgot about it. Love Ron Hynes singing it. Great Lightfoot song. Your grandson has good taste.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:15 AM

Jez Lowe wrote one about Galloway ponies who went blind because of working in the mines.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about Horses
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:09 AM

"Pony Man," by Gordon Lightfoot - my grandson's favorite.

"The Old Gray Mare" came to mind during my group's annual 30-mile high Sierra trail ride this past week. All but two of nine are over 60.