Lyr Req: I'd Like to Be in Texas for the Roundup..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song: I'd Like to Be in Texas.
From: Midchuck
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 10:03 PM

Someone I knew used to sing:

"When it's roundup time in Texas,
And the dew is on the grass,
You can take the State of Texas,
And...."

But he would never tell me how it ended.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song: I'd Like to Be in Texas.
From: Rex
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 01:53 PM

I was just doing a show with Glenn Ohrlin up in Cody. It amazes me that he still drives himself to these events. He was at the top of his game hosting the Bunkhouse Corral this Saturday. Adios,

Rex

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song: I'd Like to Be in Texas.
From: MMario
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 01:22 PM

I love how "conversations" on this forum can pick up and continue with a lapse of six or seven years....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song: I'd Like to Be in Texas.
From: Art Thieme
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 01:20 PM

Stewie,
It's great to see ya here. I do hope you are well -- and and even good!!

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song: I'd Like to Be in Texas.
From: curmudgeon
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 11:36 AM

You can download an MP3 of Skip Gorman singing this song   here   - Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song: I'd Like to Be in Texas.
From: Stewie
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 10:33 AM

Likewise Slim Critchlow on his wonderful 'Crooked Road to Holbrook' album.

Click

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song: I'd Like to Be in Texas.
From: open mike
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 10:37 PM

Don Edwards has a great version of this...
http://www.donedwardsmusic.com/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song: I'd Like to Be in Texas.
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 09:24 PM

Always paired in my mind with "When the Bloom Is on the Sage."

"When it's roundup time in Texas,
And the bloom is on the sage,
How I long to be in Texas, just a-ridin' on the range.
I can smell the bacon frying, hear it sizzling in the pan,
Hear the breakfast horn in the early morn drinkin' coffee from a can.
etc.
(Nat Vincent and Fred Howard Wright)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song: I'd Like to Be in Texas.
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 08:08 PM

I was surprised not to be able to find a recording of this song on-line, so, for those who may not have heard it, I posted my version (learned from the Glenn Ohrlin record) here.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'D LIKE TO BE IN TEXAS (Lomax version)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 13 Sep 02 - 03:56 AM

From The Traditional Ballad Index: Roundup in the Spring:

Roundup in the Spring

DESCRIPTION: A group of cowboys meet in a hotel and swap tales. An old man listens eagerly. He was a cowboy, too, and recalls the work. He concludes, "I'd like to be in Texas for the roundup in the spring."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1926 (Recording, Vernon Dalhart)
KEYWORDS: cowboy age work
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Ohrlin-HBT 20, "Roundup in the Spring" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #11309
RECORDINGS:
Leon Chappelear "I'd Like to Be In Texas (For the Roundup in the Spring)" (Champion 45068, c. 1935; Montgomery Ward M-4950, 1936)
Vernon Dalhart "I'd Like to Be In Texas" (Vocalion 5044, 1926)
Bradley Kincaid "I'd Like to Be In Texas" (Decca 12053, n.d.)
[Asa] Martin & [James] Roberts, "The Roundup in the Spring" (Perfect 12906/Melotone 12642 [as by Asa Martin], 1933; on WhenIWas1)
File: Ohr020

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Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
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Go to the Discography

The Ballad Index Copyright 2007 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. .......................................................

From John A. Lomax and Alan Lomax, Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads, revised and enlarged (Macmillan, 1938; tenth printing 1959, pp. 321-323; with music)

I'D LIKE TO BE IN TEXAS WHEN THEY ROUND-UP IN THE SPRING*

*From "Texas and Southwestern Lore" (Publications of the Texas Folk-Lore Society, Vol. VI). Editor J. Frank Dobie in an article "Ballads and Songs of the Frontier Folk" says that he found two lines in an unpublished play of Mr. Andy Adams. When he requested the full version, Mr. Adams sent him two stanzas and the chorus, which he had obtained fifteen years previously from W.E. Hawks, a ranchman now living in Burlington, Vt. However, he claimed to be resposible for most of the second stanza. Later Mr. Dobie obtained from Lou Fishback, who was singing and selling the song in a Fort Worth hotel lobby, a printed copy of two stanzas and chorus. The third stanza is the one composed by Mr. Adams.

In the lobby of a big hotel, in New York town one day,
Sat a bunch of fellows telling yarns to pass the time away.
They told the places where they'd been and different sights they'd seen;
Some of them preferred Chicago town and others New Orleans.
In a corner in an old arm chair sat a man whose hair was grey;
He listened to them eagerly, to what they had to say.
They asked him where he'd like to be; his clear old voice did ring:
"I'd like to be in Texas when they round-up in the spring."

Refrain:
"I can see the cattle grazing o'er the hills at early morn;
I can see the campfires smoking at the breaking of the dawn;
I can hear the broncos neighing; I can hear the cowboys sing.
I'd like to be in Texas when they roun-dup in the spring."

They all sat still and listened to each word he had to say;
They knew the old man sitting there had once been young and gay.
They asked him for a story of his life upon the plains.
He slowly then removed his hat and quietly thus began:
"I've seen them stampede o'er the hills until you'd think they'd never stop;
I've seen them run for miles and miles until their leaders drop.
I was a foreman on a cow ranch--the callin of a king.
I'd like to be in Texas when they round-up in the spring.

"There's a grave in sunny Texas where Mollie Deming sleeps,
'Mid a grove of mossy live oaks that constant vigil keeps.
In my heart's a recollection of a long, long bygone day
When we rode the range together like truant kids astray.
Her gentle spirit calls me in the watches of the night,
And I hear her laughter freshening the dew of early light.
Yes, I was foreman of that cow ranch--the calling of a king,
And I'd like to be in Texas when they round-up in the spring."

Glenn Ohrlin says: "Vernon Dalhart recorded 'Roundup in the Spring' on November 1, 1926. My copy of this record gives composer credit to Copeland, although it is possible this was added at a later pressing. The song was first printed in sheet music copyrighted in 1927 by Lou Fishback (Fort Worth, Tex.); Carl Copeland and Jack Williams were listed as co-writers. The following year, the Texas Folklore Society printed an article by J. Frank Dobie, who claimed it was an old song he had obtained from Andy Adams." (The Hell-Bound Train, p. 256)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Sep 02 - 03:25 AM

MMario, I think Gene is too modest to admit that he beat you to the punch, and posted those lyrics long ago.
Art Thieme posted a parody in this thread (click)
-Joe Offer-

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Thread #6581   Message #38485
Posted By: Gene
17-Sep-98 - 08:10 PM
Thread Name: The Roundup in the Spring
Subject: RE: The Roundup in the Spring

The correct title of the song is:

I'D LIKE TO BE IN TEXAS
WHEN THEY ROUND UP IN THE SPRING
Writers: Carl Copeland & Jack Williams
* CLICK HERE *

For the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song
From: Ashley
Date: 13 Sep 02 - 02:10 AM

Hello and Thanks so much for the words . I have bin looking for 10 years . just not in the right place! Ha! Iam going to learn it and play it for my son. Thanks again... Ashley

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 09:58 AM

Play/download RealAudio here-

* * * ROSE THE RECORD LADY - SLIM CLARK * * *

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song
From: MMario
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 09:49 AM

google gives Kenneth S. Clark as composer; there appear to be a bunch of people out there who recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Cowboy song
From: wilco
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 09:42 AM

Who wrote it, and who popularized it? Great song!!

Wilco

Subject: Lyr Add: I'D LIKE TO BE IN TEXAS
From: MMario
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 08:31 AM

I'D LIKE TO BE IN TEXAS

In the lobby of a big hotel, in New York town one day,
Sat a bunch of fellers tellin' yarns to pass the time away.
They told of places they had been and different things they'd seen.
Some preferred Chicago town and others New Orleans.

In a corner, in an old arm chair, sat a man whose hair was gray.
He listened to them eagerly, to what they had to say.
They asked him where he'd like to be and his clear old voice did ring.
I'd like to be in Texas for the roundup in the spring.

(chorus)

I can see the cattle grazing o'er the hills at early morn;
I can see the campfire smoking at the breaking of the dawn
. I can hear the broncos neighing, I can hear the cowboys sing
I'd like to be in Texas for the roundup in the spring.

They sat and listened carefully to what he had to say
For they new the old man sitting there had been a top hand in his day.
They asked him for a story of his life out on the plains,
Slowly he removed his hat and quietly began.

"I've seen 'em stampede over hills till you'd think they'd never stop,
I've seen 'em run for miles and miles until their leader dropped,
I was Forman on a cow ranch, the callin of a king.
I'd like to be in Texas for the roundup in the spring.

Subject: Old Cowboy song
From: GUEST,Ashley
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 02:13 AM

Hello Cats I am looking for the lyrics to an old song my Dad used to sing and all I remember of the song is ( Id like to be in Texas when its roundup in the spring) ?? thanks. Ashley