Songs of the cattle trail and cow camp

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21723

Title

Songs of the cattle trail and cow camp

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A nostalgic collection of cowboy ballads and frontier verse gathered by John A. Lomax, capturing the romance, danger, and daily life of cattle drives. These songs evoke the vast plains, the bond between rider and horse, and the enduring spirit of the American West.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled by John A. Lomax, *Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp* offers a lyrical window into the rugged world of the American cowboy. Originally a by-product of Lomax's earlier collection, *Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads*, this volume translates the raw scenes of cattle life into poetic form, preserving the oral traditions of men who found solace in verse amidst isolation. The book serves as both a historical record and a celebration of frontier freedom, hospitality, and genuine friendship. The collection is divided into three distinct parts. The first, *Cowboy Yarns*, presents narratives of the cattle round-up, where herds are driven across vast, unfenced lands from Texas to Montana. These verses capture the thrill of the chase, the physical challenge of taming wild broncos, and the constant threat posed by outlaws and nature. Songs like "The Dance at Silver Valley" and "The Cowboy Versus Broncho" vividly depict the jingle of spurs, the swish of ropes, and the chaotic energy of the range. The second section, *The Cowboy Off Guard*, shifts focus to themes of love and longing. Many songs express a cowboy's devotion to a distant sweetheart or his deep affection for fellow riders. Titles such as "A Cowboy's Worrying Love," "Our Little Cowgirl," and "The Cowboy to His Friend in Need" highlight the emotional depth of these men, contrasting their tough exterior with tender feelings for family, friends, and lovers. The lyrics often speak of homesickness, the vigil of the night guard, and the desire to return to the home ranch. The final part, *Cowboy Types*, explores the diverse characters of the West, including the outlaw, the ranger, the sheep-herder, and the disappointed tenderfoot. Poems like "The Disappointed Tenderfoot" reveal the stark reality that the romanticized West of novels often differed from the quiet, dusty truth of the actual range. Through these selections, readers hear the cries of coyotes against the open sky and sense the spirit of the plains. Ultimately, the book preserves the voices of cowboys who lived a life of service and glamour, ensuring that the romance and service of the knight-errant of the plains endure in literature.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Poetry
• Music