Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads

<p class="tit-song">THE TRAIL TO MEXICO <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page132" name="page132"></SPAN>(p. 132)</span></p> <p>I made up my mind to change my way<br/> And quit my crowd that was so gay,<br/> To leave my native home for a while<br/> And to travel west for many a mile.</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>'Twas all in the merry month of May<br/> When I started for Texas far away,<br/> I left my darling girl behind,&mdash;<br/> She said her heart was only mine.</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>Oh, it was when I embraced her in my arms<br/> I thought she had ten thousand charms;<br/> Her caresses were soft, her kisses were sweet,<br/> Saying, "We will get married next time we meet."</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>It was in the year of eighty-three<br/> That A.J. Stinson hired me.<br/> He says, "Young fellow, I want you to go<br/> And drive this herd to Mexico."</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>The <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page133" name="page133"></SPAN>(p. 133)</span> first horse they gave me was an old black<br/> With two big set-fasts on his back;<br/> I padded him with gunny-sacks and my bedding all;<br/> He went up, then down, and I got a fall.</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>The next they gave me was an old gray,<br/> I'll remember him till my dying day.<br/> And if I had to swear to the fact,<br/> I believe he was worse off than the black.</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>Oh, it was early in the year<br/> When I went on trail to drive the steer.<br/> I stood my guard through sleet and snow<br/> While on the trail to Mexico.</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>Oh, it was a long and lonesome go<br/> As our herd rolled on to Mexico;<br/> With laughter light and the cowboy's song<br/> To Mexico we rolled along.</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>When I arrived in Mexico<br/> I wanted to see my love but could not go;<br/> So <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page134" name="page134"></SPAN>(p. 134)</span> I wrote a letter, a letter to my dear,<br/> But not a word from her could I hear.</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>When I arrived at the once loved home<br/> I called for the darling of my own;<br/> They said she had married a richer life,<br/> Therefore, wild cowboy, seek another wife.</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>Oh, the girl she is married I do adore,<br/> And I cannot stay at home any more;<br/> I'll cut my way to a foreign land<br/> Or I'll go back west to my cowboy band.</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>I'll go back to the Western land,<br/> I'll hunt up my old cowboy band,&mdash;<br/> Where the girls are few and the boys are true<br/> And a false-hearted love I never knew.</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>"O Buddie, O Buddie, please stay at home,<br/> Don't be forever on the roam.<br/> There is many a girl more true than I,<br/> So pray don't go where the bullets fly."</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <p>"It's <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page135" name="page135"></SPAN>(p. 135)</span> curse your gold and your silver too,<br/> God pity a girl that won't prove true;<br/> I'll travel West where the bullets fly,<br/> I'll stay on the trail till the day I die."</p> <p>Whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo-a-whoo.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />