Down in Texas was an old ghost town.
The only thing that stood was a shake, fallin' down.
'Till this one fine mornin' a young cowboy came to town.
Rode on his tall horse and kicked up dust till dusk.
A bad guy came in wantin' to fight,
and the cowboy laughed and said tonight.
He nodded his head and rode away, needed to pass the time today.
Night came and the two met.
"I'm gonna win and you know it," he bet.
Quick as lightnin' the cowboy had to draw
and win this battle once in for all.
Pulled out his gun, and won that duel.
That silly bad guy was such a fool!

-- Submitted by Jordan from Katy, TX

I had to say I was sorry,
I cannot see you cry
Your teardrops always drown me
and I've never figured why!

Even though you treat me coldly,
and sometimes with disdain,
I want to tell you, sweetheart
I just never feel that pain.

We are going out tonight, my love
to a table just for two
with candlelight and violins
we have some talkin' to do.

We'll pledge to start things over
just like they were before,
we are goin' to set out even
and forget counting scores.

And we have to come out smiling,
and make this brand new start
baby, I know I mean this
I'm speaking from the heart.

You were my best friend, lady,
and I was good for you,
and thats how things will be once more
we'll bring back hapiness I'm sure,
and no more crying out no more,

My open arms await your entry
they'll lock and hold you tight
you'll give in to temptation
as loving goes on tonight.

We went out tonight, my love
to that table just for two
with candlelight and violins
we had some talkin' to do.

-- Submitted by Sorab Bhathena from Pune, Maharashtra, India

There'll never be a last cowboy
As long as there's still some ole cows--
Who'd be crazy 'nuf to round 'em up
'Cordin' to how the law allows?

Ya can't do this, ya can't do that,
So sez that gall dern guv'ament--
It's like they thinks they know the best--
Don't they sees our predicament?

Though they near did in the farmer
And 'bout wrecked the ole family farm--
So long as they don't rile cowboys,
They won't be doin' too much harm.

As long as we's got our good hosses,
Cowboys will still be ridin' here--
Give us a long lonely prairie--
Sparklin' stars in a night that's clear.

-- Submitted by Glen Enloe from Independence, MO

The old man sat quietly in the corner of the bar,
As the young men talked of exploits they had,
Of rivers they'd crossed and wells gone dry,
And good days fewer than bad.

They yipped and howled about their lives as cowboys on the range
And slapped each other on the back,
Out-telling one another with stories of their fame,
Of tall tales there was no lack.

The old man, tired of listening, rose to take his leave,
When one young brag eyed him as he passed,
He tipped his hat in salute for he knew what he had seen,
A legend in this time that would not last:

He rangered down in Texas, drove cattle to the north,
Wagon bossed a train across the Great Divide,
He brought law to the west, bucked all that nature gave,
And in the hearts of cowboys never died.

The young man raised his glass as he stood up from his chair,
"Here's to all who came before, may they live forever in our minds,
They're the best that ever were,
'Cause good cowboys are mighty hard to find."

-- Submitted by Norman Edward Rourke from Beggs, OK

Them girls who made them patties
Were Pat and Dot and May
Them girls who made them patties
Won't feed on winter hay
The boss got in the buyer and
he sent the girls away
And now my wee pie makers
Are pies themselves today

Oh, I would rather they'd stopped
on the farm, y'know
But in a farm economy well,
that's the way things go, so
They'll show up in cling wrap on
some townie cafe tray
With sprigs of thyme and celery
and dots of mayonnaise.

Oh, Pattie was a cowgirl
Who'd take the chance to think
You'd often find her ruminatin'
Sippin' up her drink
Her mind was often busy
For hours in the day
Chewin' over cowie things while
pooin' out her hay, oh

I would rather they'd stopped
on the farm, y'know
But in a farm economy
well, that's they way things go.

Dottie was a cowgirl
With wings upon her feet
She'd caper in the tussock grass
And sweetly pirouette (say p-row-eat)
And I think in her heart of hearts
That Dottie's one desire
Was to show up in a ballet (say belly)
In a ballet girl's attire, oh

I would rather they'd stopped
on the farm, y'know
But in a farm economy, well
that's the way things go.

Oh, May she were a cowgirl
A pretty little thing
With pretty little eyebrows
and eyelashes and things
The bull, well he was mad for May to
wear his wedding ring,
She prettily refused with
"It's a temporary thing..." oh

I would rather they'd stopped
on the farm, y'know
But in a farm economy, well
that's the way things go, so
they'll show up in cling wrap on some
townie cafe tray
No more recognisable as
Pat and Dot and May.

-- Submitted by Tracy Huirama-Osborne from Clyde, Central Otago, New Zealand

 You might think it's strange
To ride the range
But there's an ole cowboy
as he rides along
He always sings a song
He sings of days gone by
Sometimes his songs make you cry
He is so frail
Still he rides that trail
His voice is not as loud
But still that ole cowboy
Is mighty proud
Soon it will be the end of the trail
To heaven his soul will sail
He has punched his last steer
He knows the end is near
But sing he must
He will be found
In the trail's dust
He was a lonly cuss
Nothing like us
He was a loner
Yep. He is a goner.

 -- Submitted by Don Fraser from Vancouver, WA

There is an ole'cowboy from texas
But, he travels to and fro,
Meets lots and lots of women
We'll call them friends and foes

If ever he comes your way
With one of those crooked smiles,
Be leary of this boy's actions
Cause he's cock-eyed drunk and wild

He'll tell you that you're his gal
And whisper sweet nothings in your ear
But be careful, lady, you'll be waiting
While he enjoys his dancehall cheer

That ole' cock-eyed cowboy
Will leave you sittin' in the dust
Then come right back a smilin'
Hopin' for a little more of your trust

Some cowboys are just great
The kind you never want to forget
But until you've met this one
You ain't met a cock-eyed cowboy yet!

-- Submitted by Bobbie Barnes from Jacksboro, TX

His legs were bowed, his back was bent, his skin was leather brown.
No one knew how old he was, seem he's always been around.
His hands were scared, his fingers gnarled from working with a pick.
Either digging in a mountain side or panning in a creek.
He came to town looking for a stake, to try and find the mother lode.
He knew it had to be very close to one of the trails he rode.
He hasn't found his fortune yet, perhaps he never will.
It won't be because he didn't try, he's out there digging still.
You see, the fortune that he seeks, is not in the finding of the gold.
The searching is worth so much more than all the mother lode.

-- Submitted by Owen Woodard from Grand Forks, ND