Lyr/Chords Req: Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail

Subject: cowboys tying knot in Devil's tail
From: Genie
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 04:00 PM

One of the guys at a nursing home where I do music recited a poem, which he says is a song, about some cowboys who were branding cattle when the Devil came up and tried to stop them, so they tied him to a tree with his tail. It's called "Sierra Pete" I think (can't quite recall which). The cowboys are Rusty Bob, Sandy Jigg and Sierra Pete, I believe.
Anyone know the song or poem?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 04:08 PM

Genie, it's in the DT, just put "devil's tail" in the super search box and it will take you to it. You will also see several threads where it was mentioned. This is one of the songs my dad does. Also, Katie Lee, if I remember right, has it in her book "Ten Thousand Goddam Cattle."

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Deckman
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 04:58 PM

This is a GREAT SONG!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Midchuck
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 05:08 PM

There are good recordings of this by Ian Tyson and Michael Martin Murphey. I once heard Utah Phillips do it as a recitation, live, which was superb, of course.

But I first heard it sung back in the '60s by Judy Collins. I swear I am not making this up.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 08:42 PM

Sierry Petes (from Sierra Prieta Mts.), written by Gail Gardner, music by Billy Simon, has been discussed before and should come up in the Forum. Gail Gardner's original words are reproduced by Glenn Ohrlin in his book, "The Hell-Bound Train." Katie Lee indeed has the story, words and music in her "Ten Thousand Goddam Cattle."
The best recording (read my pers. op.) is by Harry Jackson on Folkways.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Genie
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 03:36 AM

Thanks, y'all. Normally I look in the DT first, but for some silly reason it didn't occur to me that this one might be there! Duh ...

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Genie
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 03:41 AM

Oh, I forgot, folks -- is there a way I can find the tune? I can probably figure the chords out easily (it IS a cowboy song, after all), if I know what the tune is.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 04:11 AM

Genie, just scroll down the lyrics to the TYIN TEN KNOTS IN THE DEVIL'S TAIL and you should be all set. *grin*

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Genie
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 08:02 PM

Kat, Having copied the thread earlier, I just read it today and realized there was that MIDI link!

I gotta stop posting at 3 o'clock in the morning!

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 08:42 PM

The midi to "Tyin' Knots" doesn't match the tunes in either Ohrlin or Katie Lee very well. For that matter, the words don't have Gardner's punch. The DT version is a much simplified one, undoubtedly made up for summer camp rhinestone cowboys.
I am putting Gail Gardner's original SIERRY PETES in the thread Favourite Cowboy Songs Second Edition.
Here
Better words may be buried in Mudcat somewhere, but I can't find them.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Bennet Zurofsky
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 03:26 PM

This song was printed with melody, text and a full set of lyrics in Sing Out! many years ago and, if I am not mistaken, it was included in one of the reprints volumes. The title there was "Tyin' Knots In the Devil's Tail."

In addition, unless I am very much mistaken (as Monty Python used to say) it is included in John Lomax's seminal collection of cowboy ballads, first published in 1916 or so but I believe still in print somewhere.

As to recorded versions, I second the vote for Harry Jackson's as the best. Jackson is better known as a sculptor than as a singer (he has bronze casts of cowboy scenes in places like the White House) but I think he is a better singer than a sculptor. His recordings of cowboy songs for Folkways are the most authentic-sounding renditions I've heard.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Genie
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 01:56 AM

Dic ho, I found Gardner's original lyrics. Thanks!
But I didn't find a MIDI for alternative tunes. (I'm not crazy about the tune that's posted above, and I'd like to hear alternative ones.)
Where can I find the other tunes (and which tune is Gardner's original?
Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 04:46 AM

The Gardner tune of "The Sierry Petes" is in John I. White, Git Along Little Dogies (University of Illinois Press, 1975, p. 122). It's in chapter 10: "Gail Gardner, Cowboy 'Poet Lariat'" (pp. 117-125). Gardner's words are given to "Tying Knots in the Devil's Tail" in Austin E and Alta S. Fife, Cowboy and Western Songs (Potter, 1969, pp. 201-203), but the tune is from Billy Simon's singing.
~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 02:49 PM

Hi, Genie!
Gail Gardner's friend, Billy Simon, wrote the music for Gardner's poem, Sierry Petes. The sheet music is shown in Ohrlin, Glenn, The Hell-Bound Train, pp. 69-70. Katie Lee, in Ten Thousand Goddam Cattle, also credits Simon with the music, but the fragment she gives (p. 225) is slightly different from that in Ohrlin.
The music in John White 's book, Git Along Little Dogies, has been modified to suit White's voice; it differs from the one in Ohrlin and the one in Lee; I would guess that Ohrlin's is the real one but he also could have modified a note or several to suit HIS voice and interpretation.
The stolen and revised song, "Tying Knots," as sung by other singers, could have other revisions.
Genie, take your pick to suit your voice, but I hope you sing Sierry Petes, not Tying Knots.

Lomax, a collector but sloppy in his documentation (definitely not familiar with research), printed "Tying a Knot..." in his American Ballads and Folk Songs, but did not acknowledge Gardner as the author, creating resentment on the part of Gardner and others who knew the true story.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Genie
Date: 13 Jan 02 - 05:01 AM

Dicho,
Having seen both versions, I definitely prefer "Sierry Petes!" I would like to hear the other tune(s), though.
Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Rincon Roy
Date: 13 Jan 02 - 08:35 AM

Gail Gardner hailed from Prescott Arizona I do believe & also authored other fun things

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Jan 02 - 09:11 AM

Rincon Roy, see my link (above, 09-Jan-02) to the other thread, with more about Gail Gardner.

Subject: Gale Gardner/Sierry Petes
From: Genie
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 10:02 PM

just changing the subject line to tie this thread to Gale Gardner and to the title "Sierry Petes"

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 10:57 PM

By far the best version I ever heard [and have] is by REX ALLEN...

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 07:13 PM

I am putting Katie Lee's chords for Sierry Petes in thread 13471, where the complete Gardner song is posted. Si'-ree

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 11:34 PM

Harry Jackson's "tune" for this is at least three tunes. If someone were a more careful transcriber they might find that he varies the tune in fact for *every* verse. His reading is followed faithfully by Larry Hanks (now again of the Bay area, having once been a Northwester) on his album "Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail" (and a splendid album it is, with the title track not the least of its pleasures).

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 12:07 AM

I have Harry Jackson singing "Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail" without any accompaniment- this gives him freedom to wander and not be tied down. Does Larry Hanks also sing unaccompanied? I will have to look for his album.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Genie
Date: 13 Mar 02 - 12:25 AM

Just curious if anyone has a MIDI of Simon's tune for "Sierry Petes," which is, I understand, the original tune that Gardner used.

I'm gonna try to find "Ten Thousand Goddam Cattle," but it may take a while.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 01:05 AM

The only singer I ever heard sing Tyin' a knot in the Devil's Tail was Cisco Houston. That warm baritone voice will ever be imprinted on my memory. I've sung the song for over 50 years. Maybe one day I'll hear the versions you guys are talking about, but try to scare up Cisco's and see how yo like it.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Flash Company
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 09:38 AM

Ramblin' Jack Elliott recorded this on a set he did in London with Danny Levan on fiddle. He called it 'Rusty Jiggs and Sandy Sam'.

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 11:12 AM

Don Edwards just released a version too on his newest CD.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: cowboys tying knot in Devil's
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 04:44 PM

Powder River Jack and Katie Lee recorded this in the '30s. Jack was only a stage cowboy given to phony, colorful yarns starring himself, but his cowboy song recordings are among the liveliest and most enjoyable of the period.

I believe this song has been reissued on one of Shanachie's two "When I was a Cowboy" CDs. These are essential listening for fans of the genre; the performances are all from the '20s and '30s.