Blue Mountain-Definitions

Subject: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From:
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 10:47 AM

Re: Fred Keller's Blue Mountain. What are "sleeper calves"? Please define "I'll own the Hip, Side and Shoulder".... Thanks, Phil from OK

Subject: RE: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From: Barbara
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 12:04 PM

OK Phil, I can make some guesses, but I'm not sure. It looks to me like the singer is partly paid in "sleeper calves" and "hip, side and shoulder" are cuts of meat. It could be "I'll own hip, side and shoulder when they grow older"... and possibly a sleeper calf is like a bummer lamb, one without a mom. I live in farm/cattle country, I could ask around...
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 02:38 PM

In their book, Cowboy and Western Songs, Austin and Alta Fife define "sleeper" as a calf earmarked by a cattle thief who intends to come back and steal it later - I'm not sure that fits this song, but it might. Zapatero, they say, is Spanish for "shoemaker" - but they spell it "Zapitaro" in the song text, so I'm not sure it's the same word. The text we have in the database seems to be exactly the same as the text in the Fife book - although I do see one typo in the last verse. The capitalization and quotes match what's in the Fife book, so I'm guessing "Hip-Side-and-Shoulder" might be the name of a local cocktail lounge or dining establishment ;-)

The Fife introduction to the song reads:

Many cowboys drifted from ranch to ranch through a dozen western states. Owning nothing except a cow pony, saddle, and "hot roll," they rode the "Chuck line" - begged, that is - from ranch to ranch, staying out their welcome at each before moving on. This song expresses a subtle balance, between moods of violence and sentimentality that fits the cowboy image, and rhythms that fit the movements of a horse paced for a long day's trek. Judge F.W. Keller wrote it in Monticello, Utah.

Here are Ed Trickett's notes and the slightly different lyrics from the wonderful Bok-Muir-Trickett CD "Language of the Heart"

Blue Mountain
1920 Fred W. Keller

Learned about 30 years ago from Steve White, who found it on a record of Frank Hamilton. Written around 1920 by Fred W. Keller, a lawyer, who lived near Monticello, Utah, where, it is told, during winter snows, the figure of a horse's head can be discerned on the side of a nearby mountain. It was written for an old timers banquet celebrating local history, and it contains many local references to people and places of the time. (ET)

My home it was in Texas, my past you must not know
For I seek a refuge from the law where the sage and the pinion grow.

Chorus:
Blue Mountain you're azure deep. Blue Mountain your sides are steep.
Blue Mountain with a horsehead on your side you've won my heart to keep.

On the brand LC I ride. There's sleeper calves by the side.
I'll own the "hip, side and shoulder" before I get older.
Zapatero don't you tan my hide.

I chum with Latigo Gordon, I drink at the Blue Goose saloon.
I dance all night with the Mormon gals, ride home `neath the light of the moon.

I trade at Bunse's store, there's bullet holes in his door
His calico treasure my pony can measure when I'm drunk and I'm feeling sore.

In the summer they say it's fine, and the winter winds I don't mind.

But say there, dear brother, if you want a mother, there's Ev on the old chuck line.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From: Barry Finn
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 08:12 PM

The two Carlyle brothers were among the first pioneers there & established a ranch on Spring Creek, a small stream on the north & east slopes of Blue Mountain. They branded with 3 swibes or bars, one on the hip, one on the side & one on the shoulder. They were referred to as the Hip Side And Shoulder. "Sleepering calves" to start their on herds.Zapatero was Nephi Bailey a shoemaker who was also Justice of the Peace. Latigo Gordon was Bill Gordon, the round up foreman of the Hip Side & Shoulder & started the Blue Goose Saloon. Yarn Gallus was another cowboy, evey Christmas his mother sent him knitted galluses. Slick was another cowboy who didn't drink hard liquor or gamble, he saved his money got married & she ran off with his roll. Mon's was a store owned by a member of the Mormon community.Riding the Chuck Line consisted of riding from one ranch to another with no other object than to obtain the hospitalityof the ranchers. A mormon settler Evelyn "Ev" Adams & her husband owned a small ranch no Verdure Creek, 6 miles south of Monticello, she was known the feed them when they (cowboys) were hungry & nurse them when they were sick, most of them looked on her as a foster mother, she was the most popular spot on the Chuck Line.
(Notes taken from PSG newsletter Sept 1970 by the SF Folk Music Club). Barry

Subject: RE: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From: folk1234
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 09:28 PM

Thanks, Great responses! It is amazing how much culture and history can be crammed into a few bars of music, several verses, and a chorus. I don't do many cowboy songs, but this one is truly a gem. I can't wait 'til our next month's club (Oklahoma City Traditional Music Association) meeting, so I can do this one. Happy chords to all.

Subject: RE: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From: Art Thieme
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 11:51 PM

Skip Gorman has my personal favorite recording of this song---on a recent CD on Rounder---A GREENER PRAIRIE.

I recorded it on my first record---KM-15---Kicking Mule Records--1974 or 5---A. T. "Outright Boldfaced Lies"--live at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. I got all the historical details wrong as I'd learned it that way from Frank Hamilton (a founder of the O.T.S.F.M. and former member of the WEAVERS)whose recording of it on his "Folksinger's Folksinger" LP. The marvelous Faith Petric wrote me a letter informing me in no uncertain terms that I'd gotten it WRONG---WRONG--WRONG.

Art

Subject: RE: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From: Art Thieme
Date: 09 Sep 98 - 12:34 AM

SLEEPER CALVES, I always thought, were two cows that, while being driven along the trail from South Texas to the railhead, paired off, fell in love and decided to sleep together!

Subject: RE: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From: Rockaday Johnny
Date: 09 Sep 98 - 12:35 AM

Art - It may be wrong, but it's still WONDERFUL ---Folks try to find "Outright Boldfaced Lies" it's a great lp!!!!!

Subject: RE: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From: Art Thieme
Date: 09 Sep 98 - 12:47 AM

Thanks Mr. Johnny--very nice for you to say that.

Heifer joke is better than none. To ere is human; to forgive, bovine!

Subject: RE: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From: BSeed
Date: 09 Sep 98 - 01:33 AM

You're repeating yourselfl, Art. No fair. --seed

Subject: RE: Blue Mountain-Definitions
From: MAG
Date: 27 Oct 98 - 07:32 PM

and may I add that the beautiful Blues stretch all the way here to the SE corner ofthe Great State of Washington. and they really do look blue.