Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp by John A. Lomax.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The author dedicates the book to a group of college friends, expressing gratitude and affection for their camaraderie and shared memories.
Chapter 2
Epigraph
The epigraph sets a nostalgic tone, reflecting on the end of the frontier era and the passing of the cowboy's wild, adventurous life, while suggesting that the spirit of that time lives on in song and story.
Chapter 3
Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp
This chapter presents a collection of poems and songs from the cattle trail and cow camp, capturing the spirit, humor, loneliness, and camaraderie of cowboy life. The verses range from boastful tales and tragic love stories to reflective moments on the open range, celebrating the unique culture and landscape of the American West.
Chapter 4
Part I: Cowboy Yarns
This chapter opens with a vivid depiction of cowboy life, featuring poems and narratives that celebrate the rugged, romanticized West. It includes Arthur Chapman's 'Out Where the West Begins,' which idealizes the region's stronger bonds and truer friendships; Henry Herbert Knibbs's 'The Shallows of the Ford,' a tense tale of a lawman confronting an outlaw friend; 'The Dance at Silver Valley,' where Broncho Bill arrives for a dance and a confrontation over Belle McClure; a nostalgic poem about a cattle round-up and a Cattlemen's Ball; a yarn from an old Texas cowman lamenting the loss of the open range; and 'The Clown's Baby,' a story of a circus clown who uses his own baby to delight a rough mining crowd.
Chapter 5
Out Where the West Begins
A poetic celebration of the idealized American West, portraying it as a place of stronger handclasps, truer friendships, brighter skies, and a simpler, more generous way of life, where bonds of home are tighter and hearts ache less.
Chapter 6
The Shallows of the Ford
A narrator waits at dawn by a river ford, tasked with capturing or killing an outlaw who was once his friend. Torn between duty and loyalty, he calls out a warning instead of ambushing the man, allowing him to escape back across the Rio. The narrator's partner wakes and silently questions the outcome, but the narrator's choice stands—a debt of friendship honored over the demands of law.
Chapter 7
The Dance at Silver Valley
Broncho Bill arrives in Silver Valley for a dance, where his romantic interest in Belle McClure leads to a fatal confrontation with the gambler Jim Kershaw. After a tense exchange, Bill is shot and dies on the dance floor, while the festivities continue upstairs.
Chapter 8
The Legend of Boastful Bill
At a roundup on the Gila River, a group of cowboys witness the boastful Bill attempt to ride a wild horse from Idaho. Despite the horse's violent bucking, Bill brags continuously, claiming he could even rope lightning. The horse eventually breaks its back, sending Bill flying into the sky, where he is last heard boasting about breaking celestial horses. Years later, the cowboys still hear his shouts during storms, and they imagine he will one day return riding a thunderbolt, mocking future generations' softness.
Chapter 9
The Texas Cowboy and the Mexican Greaser
A stranger cowboy defends a wounded Mexican man from a lynch mob in Palo Pinto, standing firm against the crowd's racial hatred and ultimately earning their respect through his courage.
Chapter 10
Broncho Versus Bicycle
A cowboy narrator recounts a race between his prized bronco and a bicycle ridden by a confident Easterner named Tom Stevens. Despite the cowboy's initial certainty of victory, the bicycle proves faster and more enduring, leading to the cowboy's humiliating defeat and the loss of his horse.
Chapter 11
Riders of the Stars
A Texas man leads a delegation of cowboys before the throne of Heaven, petitioning the Marster to be allowed to ride and rope the stars as they once did on the open range. The Lord grants their request, and they are turned loose to herd the celestial cattle.
Chapter 12
Lasca
A cowboy narrator recalls his passionate love for Lasca, a wild and devoted Mexican girl, their life riding together on the range, a jealous stabbing incident, and her heroic death during a stampede when she shields him with her body. The poem ends with his enduring grief and sense of loss, as he buried her alone on the prairie.
Chapter 13
The Transformation of a Texas Girl
A poem by James Barton Adams describing a poor, sun-burned Texas girl who toils behind a mule team, only to later transform into a wealthy, sought-after woman after oil is discovered on her family's land.
Chapter 14
The Glory Trail
High-Chin Bob, riding in the Mogollon mountains, ropes a mountain lion in a prideful act of bravado. The lion, instead of being subdued, drags Bob and his horse on a grueling three-day chase across the rugged terrain. Despite exhaustion and the impossibility of killing the lion, Bob refuses to give up, driven by a stubborn sense of glory and heroism. The poem ends with Bob, gaunt and crazed, still clinging to his rope and his pride, asking a stranger to tell his story.
Chapter 15
High Chin Bob
High Chin Bob, a boastful cowboy, ropes a mountain lion in the Mokiones and is dragged on a wild, multi-day chase across the rugged terrain. Despite exhaustion and the lion's refusal to die, Bob's pride and quest for glory keep him from letting go, resulting in a legendary, unresolved ride.
Chapter 16
To Hear Him Tell It
The narrator invites an old Texas cowman for a drink, and the cowman launches into a long, nostalgic monologue about the early days of cattle ranching, trailing herds north, fighting Indians, and how things have changed. The narrator grows weary and is relieved when the cowman is called away by a woman. The narrator vows never to hail old timers for drinks again.
Chapter 17
The Clown’s Baby
A traveling circus arrives in a rough western mining town, where the clown, desperate for a prop baby, borrows a real infant from a weary mother. The baby's genuine laugh captivates the hardened miners, who shower it with affection and donations, transforming the evening into a heartfelt community event.
Chapter 18
The Drunken Desperado
A boastful, wild cowboy brags about his lawless exploits, violence, and drinking, declaring his independence and fearlessness in the face of death.
Chapter 19
Marta of Milrone
A narrator recounts his transformation from a frail scholar in the East to a hardened man of the desert, his love for Marta of Milrone, their brief happiness, her murder by a jealous rival during their wedding, and his relentless pursuit and execution of the killer, ending in solitary grief.
Chapter 20
Jack Dempsey's Grave
The poem reflects on the forgotten grave of the famed boxer Jack Dempsey, buried in a remote, unmarked spot in the Oregon wilderness, contrasting his former glory and fame with his current obscurity.
Chapter 21
The Cattle Round-Up
A nostalgic poem celebrating the reunion of cowboys at a cattlemen's ball, reminiscing about past adventures on the prairie and the Chisholm Trail, and cherishing the renewal of old friendships and youthful joy.
Chapter 22
Part II: The Cowboy Off Guard
This chapter presents a collection of poems and songs that reveal the tender, vulnerable, and romantic side of cowboys, contrasting with their rugged exterior. Themes of love, longing, and courtship dominate, as cowboys express their hopes, fears, and heartaches in matters of the heart, often using the language of the range to describe their emotions.
Chapter 23
A Cowboy’s Worrying Love
A cowboy narrator admits he used to mock romantic heroes in novels, but now finds himself smitten by a blue-eyed woman. He describes his lovesickness, anxiety over rivals, and his plan to approach her directly to see if she returns his affection.
Chapter 24
The Cowboy and the Maid
A cowboy recounts a moonlight walk with Texas Tom, during which Tom reveals his desire to settle down and find a wife. The narrator playfully encourages him, and the two ultimately share a romantic moment, marking the successful resolution of Tom's proposal.
Chapter 25
A Cowboy’s Love Song
A cowboy celebrates the end of roundup season and his freedom to pursue Susie, a waitress he adores. He describes his devotion to her, their Sunday rides, and their shared dreams of a homestead.
Chapter 26
A Border Affair
A cowboy recalls a romantic relationship with a Mexican woman named Juana, learned Spanish through love, but was forced to flee after a gambling fight. He reflects on the loss and the impossibility of their cross-border love due to racial and legal barriers.
Chapter 27
Snagtooth Sal
A lament for a lost love, Snagtooth Sal, as the narrator recalls their happy walks through Laramie and mourns her death, expressing a desire to join her in the afterlife.
Chapter 28
Love Lyrics of a Cowboy
A cowboy expresses his deep, almost reverent love for a woman, describing how she has transformed his world and made the bunkhouse and his old life feel coarse and empty. He speaks of her calling him 'dear,' his careful grooming before visits, and the dreamlike quality of their time together under the red moon, ending with his reluctance to leave when she tells him it's nearly midnight.
Chapter 29
The Bull Fight
A poem describing the annual bullfight festival in Chihuahua, where Juan brings his beloved Pepita into town. The scene captures the vibrant procession of people, the festive atmosphere of the Plaza De Los Toros, and the climax of the bullfight, ending with Juan taking Pepita back home after the bull is killed.
Chapter 30
The Cowboy's Valentine
A cowboy uses the metaphor of rounding up stray cattle to express his romantic interest in Moll, asking her to accept his brand and settle down with him on the Home Ranch.
Chapter 31
A Cowboy’s Hopeless Love
A rough cowboy laments his hopeless love for a refined city woman visiting the ranch, feeling as foolish as a child crying for the moon. He wishes she had never come, as her beauty and kindness have unsettled his rough-and-tumble world, leaving him paralyzed and aware of the vast gulf between their stations.
Chapter 32
The Chase
A man tracks a woman through the snow, interpreting her footprints and flight as a playful invitation rather than fear, culminating in her waiting for him.
Chapter 33
Riding Song
A lyrical poem celebrating the joy and freedom of riding through the countryside with a companion, emphasizing a carefree attitude and a rejection of urban life.
Chapter 34
Our Little Cowgirl
A stranger is introduced to a young cowgirl riding across the range, praised for her exceptional skill on horseback, her ability to cut cattle and read brands, and her deep love for the land and cattle. The speaker expresses pride and affection for her, calling her the queen of the range.
Chapter 35
I Want My Time
A night guard, alone and homesick, longs for his beloved and resolves to quit the round-up at dawn, asking for his time and tobacco from a fellow cowboy.
Chapter 36
Who's That Calling So Sweet?
A reflective poem about a mysterious, sweet calling heard on the prairie. The speaker initially attributes the sound to the wind or birds, but ultimately realizes it is the voices of loved ones from across the seas, evoking a deep sense of longing and nostalgia.
Chapter 37
Song of the Cattle Trail
A cowboy's song celebrating the end of the fall cattle drive, the hard work and dangers of the trail, and the eager anticipation of returning home to his beloved.
Chapter 38
A Cowboy’s Son
A tender, reflective poem in which a cowboy addresses a newborn son, musing on the boy's celestial origin and the hard, lonely life ahead. The speaker asks whether the child will remember his mother as he grows into manhood, rides the range, and falls in love, highlighting the tension between the cowboy's rugged independence and the pull of home and family.
Chapter 39
A Cowboy Song
A cowboy expresses his devotion to Lolita, vowing to earn gold and even steal cattle to build a ranch for her, confident in her love despite other suitors.
Chapter 40
A Nevada Cowpuncher to His Beloved
A lonely cowboy expresses his deep longing for his beloved through the desolate landscape of Nevada, finding the empty rooms and silent surroundings a constant reminder of her absence.
Chapter 41
The Cowboy to His Friend in Need
A cowboy poet addresses his revolver, a .45 caliber Colt, as a trusted companion and tool of his trade. The poem contrasts the weapon's polished, dangerous exterior with its docile nature in the cowboy's hands, expressing a deep, affectionate bond between the man and his firearm.
Chapter 42
When Bob Got Throwed
A humorous poem about a cowboy who gleefully watches his friend Bob get thrown from a bronco, only to later be thrown himself and face Bob's mocking laughter and rough retaliation.
Chapter 43
Cowboy Versus Broncho
A cowboy narrator vividly describes the intense, physical struggle of riding a wild bronco, emphasizing the danger, skill, and raw excitement of the contest, while also expressing a grudging sympathy for the horse once it is finally broken.
Chapter 44
When You're Throwed
A humorous and gritty first-person account of getting thrown from a bronco, capturing the universal cowboy experience of being bucked off despite one's skill. The narrator describes the physical struggle, the crowd's jeers, and the humbling aftermath, emphasizing that even the best riders get thrown.
Chapter 45
Pardners
A cowboy addresses his horse as a tough, loyal partner, reflecting on their shared hardships and battles, and declaring that no amount of money could buy the horse away from him.
Chapter 46
The Bronc That Wouldn’t Bust
A cowboy narrator recounts his failed attempt to break a particularly unruly buckskin bronco on Powder River. Despite his experience, the horse bucks him off spectacularly, leading him to humorously resign from bronco-busting altogether.
Chapter 47
The Ol’ Cow Hawse
A cowboy poet praises the old cow horse as the most reliable, faithful, and enduring mount for range work, contrasting it with fancy, high-bred steeds. He expresses a wish to ride such a horse in the afterlife.
Chapter 48
The Bunk-House Orchestra
A lively poem celebrating the camaraderie and joy of cowboys gathering in a bunkhouse to play music and dance after a hard day's work on the trail, finding comfort and happiness in simple pleasures despite harsh conditions.
Chapter 49
The Cowboy’s Dance Song
A cowboy recounts his awkward and humorous experience attending a high-toned dance in Denver, where his rough-and-tumble style clashes with the refined expectations of the event, yet he finds joy and connection with a partner who appreciates his genuine nature.
Chapter 50
The Cowboys’ Christmas Ball
A nostalgic, first-person account of attending a lively Christmas ball in Anson City, Texas, where cowboys and ladies gather for a raucous dance led by the charismatic Windy Billy, featuring fiddle music, a tambourine, and a bass viol, with vivid descriptions of the Western landscape and the spirited, chaotic festivities that last until dawn.
Chapter 51
A Dance at the Ranch
Cowboys and girls gather from across the range for a lively dance at a ranch on the Owyhee. The evening is filled with music, flirtation, and energetic square dancing, lasting until dawn. Afterward, the cowboys return to their work and the girls rest, with the memory of the jolly spree lingering for a week.
Chapter 52
At a Cowboy Dance
A lively and rhythmic poem describing the energetic, rough-and-tumble atmosphere of a cowboy dance, with calls to action for the dancers and a focus on the communal, spirited nature of the event.
Chapter 53
The Cowboys’ Ball
A lively, rhythmic poem celebrating the energy and camaraderie of a cowboy dance, with vivid descriptions of dancing, drinking, and socializing under the stars.
Chapter 54
Part III: Cowboy Types
This chapter presents a collection of poems and songs that explore the diverse characters and experiences of the American cowboy, from the solitary sheepherder to the boisterous broncho rider, celebrating their freedom, toughness, and unique code of honor.
Chapter 55
The Cowboy
A poetic tribute to the cowboy, celebrating his distinctive attire, riding skill, loyalty, bravery, and rough-hewn virtues while acknowledging his flaws and calling for understanding and kindness toward him.
Chapter 56
Bar-Z on a Sunday Night
A poem describing the rough cowboys of the Bar-Z ranch who, despite their sinful reputation, gather on Sunday nights to sing hymns led by a young boy and accompanied by Dick's fiddle, softening their hearts and making temporary promises of reform.
Chapter 57
A Cowboy Race
A vivid poetic depiction of a cowboy race across the prairie, capturing the thunderous hoofbeats, swirling dust, and wild energy of the riders and horses as they challenge the sun itself.
Chapter 58
The Habit
A restless wanderer reflects on his inability to stay in one place, describing how the habit of roaming—driven by the lure of the open road, the wind, and the sun—makes settling down impossible. He has traveled from Portland to San Antone, experienced both wealth and jail, but always feels compelled to move on.
Chapter 59
A Ranger
A quiet, unassuming ranger tracks a Yaqui killer who stabbed a woman in a jealous rage. The ranger follows the trail south through the desert and mountains, eventually exchanging gunfire with the killer in a canyon. Though wounded, he successfully kills the man and returns to the sheriff, refusing to boast about his deed.
Chapter 60
The Insult
A rugged cowboy boasts of his many dangerous exploits and hardships, from swimming the Colorado River to riding broncos and fighting in campaigns, only to declare that none of these trials made him lose his temper—until someone offered him ginger ale, which he considers the ultimate insult.
Chapter 61
The Road to Ruin
The narrator visits a familiar grog-shop after twenty years, reflecting on the passage of time and the ruin that has befallen many of his old drinking companions. He observes changes in the bar and its patrons, recalls friends now in the poorhouse, prison, or dead, and visits the churchyard where those who died of broken hearts are buried.
Chapter 62
The Outlaw
A cowboy boasts of his ability to break wild horses and steers, asserting the dominance of man over beast. However, he concludes that the one creature he cannot fully tame is himself, when his own temper and inner 'devil' take control.
Chapter 63
The Desert
A parched and desperate narrator, stranded in the desert after his horse collapses, encounters a coyote that tells him the story of the 'Upland Rider'—a man who suffered the same fate, wrote his name in the sand, and died. The narrator shoots the coyote, then hallucinates visions of water and rain before waking to find his horse alive and the trail home ahead.
Chapter 64
Whiskey Bill—A Fragment
A brief, anonymous poem depicting the reckless, drunken rampage of Whiskey Bill through a town, evoking a mix of humor and pity as the sheriff confronts him and Bill meets his end.
Chapter 65
Denver Jim
A posse corners Denver Jim, a wanted man, under a burr-oak tree, preparing to hang him. Just before the execution, Jim asks to answer a letter from his mother, which reveals her love and gratitude for his support. Moved by the letter, the leader spares Jim, lets him go home to his mother, and the posse departs, illustrating that a mother's love can override the law.
Chapter 66
The Vigilantes
A poem describing the vigilantes as a force of divine retribution in the West, executing harsh justice against the wicked through violent and grim means, framed as a necessary duty to protect the weak and uphold the law.
Chapter 67
The Bandit's Grave
A poem describing the lonely desert grave of a border bandit, surrounded by harsh natural elements and wildlife, reflecting on his eternal rest and the distant memory of his life.
Chapter 68
The Old Mackenzie Trail
A reflective poem that traces the historical and emotional significance of the old Mackenzie cattle trail in Texas, evoking the vanished frontier life of cowboys, wagon trains, and Native American presence, while meditating on loss, memory, and the enduring spirit of westward expansion.
Chapter 69
The Sheep-Herder
A lonely sheep-herder reflects on his monotonous life on the range, dreaming of his sweetheart Minnie back in Kansas and imagining a future together, while grappling with isolation and the harsh realities of his work.
Chapter 70
A Cowboy at the Carnival
A cowboy from the range describes his disorientation and discomfort at a carnival in Denver, contrasting the noisy, crowded city life with the freedom and simplicity of his life on the cattle ranch. He feels like a stray animal, watched by a policeman, and longs to return to the open range where he can breathe freely and wear his own clothes.
Chapter 71
The Old Cowman
The narrator reflects on returning to a valley range after many years, only to find it transformed by fences and settlement. He mourns the loss of the open, unfenced land that once belonged to God, the Government, and the people, and expresses a deep nostalgia for the freedom of the past. He wishes to be buried in a wide, lonely stretch of West where cattle and coyotes roam, but insists that his grave not be fenced in.
Chapter 72
The Gila Monster Route
A down-and-out hobo, ditched by a freight train in the desolate desert along the Gila Monster Route, reflects on his past misfortunes and a lost companion before hitching a ride on a passing stock train to escape the barren landscape.
Chapter 73
The Call of the Plains
A poetic yearning for the freedom and beauty of the prairies, expressing a deep longing for the open landscape, the wind, and the cowboy life.
Chapter 74
Where the Grizzly Dwells
A cowboy reflects on the raw, natural beauty of the West compared to the artificiality of the East, wandering through the Rockies on horseback. He recalls a night during round-up, lying under the stars and pondering the afterlife, ultimately affirming his eternal connection to the wild, mountainous land of the grizzly and sage brush.
Chapter 75
A Cowboy Toast
A poetic tribute to the passing cowboy, celebrating his life on the open range, his skills with lasso and horse, and the harsh realities of storms and stampedes, while calling for his memory to be honored.
Chapter 76
Ridin’ Up the Rocky Trail from Town
The chapter depicts a group of cowboys returning home from a rowdy visit to town, celebrating their wild and combative nature. It references the ballad of Billy Leamont and Jack Lorell, and contrasts the freedom of the open range with the strife of city life, drawing on biblical allusions to emphasize the cowboy's rebellious spirit.
Chapter 77
The Disappointed Tenderfoot
A tenderfoot arrives in the West expecting the wild scenes from dime novels and Wild West shows—cowboys, gunfights, broncos, and outlaws—but finds only a quiet, modernized place where derbies replace wide-brimmed hats and the old frontier has vanished. An old settler tells him the West has gone East, and such things only happen in tents.
Chapter 78
A Cowboy Alone with His Conscience
A cowboy rides into the mountains seeking solitude, but instead finds an overwhelming sense of isolation and spiritual unease. The quiet landscape amplifies his guilt and prompts deep reflection on his past sins, his childhood, and his mother's teachings. He concludes that nature's solitude is more powerful than formal religion in forcing a man to confront his conscience.
Chapter 79
Just A-Ridin’!
A cowboy's lyrical celebration of the riding life, extolling the freedom, natural beauty, and rugged joy of the range, and expressing a wish for an eternal ride in the afterlife.
Chapter 80
The End of the Trail
A lullaby-like poem bidding farewell to the cattle drive, celebrating the end of the trail with rest and peace for the weary cattle, while hinting at their eventual fate as beef.
Chapter 81
Endnotes
The chapter provides endnotes that clarify specific terms and references within the book, including pronunciation notes, cultural context about saloons and sheepherders, and editorial remarks about a halfbreed Indian poet's verses.
