Lyr Req: The Old Toolpusher from Snyder

Subject: The Old Toolpusher from Snyder
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 01:25 PM

From the generic oilfield songs thread, this is the only one my dad could remember specific to the oilfields whcih he worked in all of hsi life.

He would love to have the words, again, as would some of the rest of us. All he remembers is the title and that it came out around 1951, when the Snyder, Texas oil boom was big. He couldn't remember who did it, but does remember it was very popular, even in Wyoming.

Thanks for any help,

kat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Toolpusher from Snyder
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 03:13 PM

Kat,

It's on an LP (probably a custom tape naow) from the Archive of Folksong (now called the something of Folk Culture--I'll never remember that change).

If I can dig it out I' will post the words.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Toolpusher from Snyder
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 05:03 PM

A couple of years ago I visited a musician friend in Odessa Tx [Permian Basin] and he sang that for me and also THIS OLD RIG/to the tune of this old house. I have both lyrics if i can find them....may be on the computer that is TEMP DOWN...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Toolpusher from Snyder
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 06:47 PM

Less than two hours! Damn you guys are good! Dad is going to love this; both songs! I always tell him, "Someone at the 'Cat will know about it, Dad." Sure enough at least one of you always does! Dad never knew what he was starting that day he asked me to search for lyrics on the Internet and I found this delightful place called the Mudcat!

Thank you very, very much, Art and Gene!!

kat

Subject: Lyr Add: TOOL PUSHER FROM SNYDER^^
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 07:54 PM

maybe ART can find the recording and correct any errors--this was written out by my musician friends wife after Freddy sang it...

the CHORUS has a line with different town names and the rest is repeated--I think--it has been awhile!

TOOL PUSHER FROM SNYDER

I've got a gal in Snyder
She's a whole like the town
She's bigger than she was a year ago
When we had our ups and downs
I know she'll never marry me
'Cause she's not duty bound
She says all I can think about
Is ten miles underground

Chorus
Now it's oil I'm after
That's why I'm drilling down
I'm a tool pusher from Snyder
A little Nortwestern town
***I've drilled in Kilgore, Beaumont, Borger
This is the best I've found
I'll keep tool pushin' on a rotary rig
Till I'm six feet underground

That gal's always complaining
About talk of a christmas tree
Said a drill steam test on a rotary rig
Don't mean a thing to me
She thinks core drilling is a navy term
Well, what else could it be
She left a sailor boy in Houston
And she threw her ring at me

CHORUS
I've drilled in Gladewater, Midland, Tulsa

I've drilled in California
With a Ft. Worth yo-yo rig
For Standard Oil on Arabian soil
Where the gals are dark and big
I've drilled in old Wyoming
For a pretty western squaw
Might have made my home on the teapot dome
If it hadn't-a been for her pa

CHORUS
I've drilled in Hobbs and Amarillo

^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Toolpusher from Snyder
From: Art Thieme
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 11:30 PM

I'm still lookin for mine. But that sure looks like the one I heard.

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Old Toolpusher from Snyder
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 11:39 PM

Sounds like the one dad mentioned, too, as he said the toolpusher only had one thing on his mind and that was...oil! Thanks!!