unknown

Since i saw that rodeo in 1965
I had to try to be the greatest bareback rider alive
I went and did some practicing on pa's old ropin' mare
And i thought i'd take that bronc i'd drawed
And really part it's hair
When they opened up the gate he did a double flip

Half way through the second one is when i lost my grip
I hooked my spurs into the dees and hung with all my might
I held my breath he chinned the moon
And sucked back to the right
My boots came off and went asailin' right up in the stands
My belt it broke and shattered my watch i lost my wedding band
I scattered all my cigarettes my shirt ripped down the back.
I sure was gettin' dizzy and i thought my neck would crack
I rode him several jumps with both hands high up in the air
He jumped into an old light pole we parted company there
I landed in some muddy slop he stomped right through my side

Nothin' ever busted me like that old pony ride
I couldn't seem to catch my breath i couldn't seem to hide
I hobbled back barefooted just a searchin' for my pride

And i just couldn't believe my achin' ears
When the announcer said re-ride re-ride re-ride
I've had enough for 20 men and he calls up re-ride
Re-ride re-ride
You'd think he got me good enough they give him one more try

Just look at you, girl
Standin' here beside me
Starlight on your hair
Lookin' like a dream i dreamed somewhere
And look at me, girl
You got me actin' just like a lover
In an old time picture show
And how i got the part -- i just don't know
But it's written all across your face
Plain as it can be
You're the one that i was lookin' for
Now you're all that i can see

Chorus:

You mean everything to me
And i'd do anything to have you stay forever
I'm an ordinary man
But i feel like i could do anything in the world
When i look at you, girl

Verse:

Just look at you, girl
Walkin' here beside me
Misty morning light
I see my own reflection in your eyes
And just smile at me, girl
With eyes that tell a story
That words can never say tellin' me your love is gonna stay
And we're standin' right together now
In everything we do
And if my world should come apart
I'll still be lovin' you

Repeat chorus

We

Them bareback horses are the only thing
They make your back hurt they make your bell ring
They're hard on tailbones and they make your neck sore
But when it's all over you're craving some more


Well you drive down the road in a broke down car
You stop in some town you wonder where in the hell you are
You get yourself a road map and head out once again
With only enough for fees so you'd damn sure better win
You finally make the pitchin' with your entry fees all paid
You get on another snatcher and he flings you away
So you head to town broken hearted lookin' for a chance
To get a little drunk and find some girl and dance
Well you meet a little girl at the bar all alone
You whoop some words on her to get her to take you home
But she's got a big boyfriend who just came from the can
And he says move on there buddy cause he's her lovin' man
So you climb back in your car after your little bitty fight
You're drunk and broken hearted
And it's twelve o'clock at night
And you ain't got a dime in your old blue jeans
But by god you got a half a tank of gas
And a can of pork and beans

You write a hot check to pay your fees once again
You got yourself a good one so you ought to win
The horse is standin' in the chute then he bucks around
The whistle blows then you're standin' on the ground
The judges total their markings and they tally up the score
And you're beatin' everybody by at least ten points or more
So you climb back in your car with a pocket full of cash
A good feelin' in your heart and a tank full of gas
But boys the day finally comes when you get old and grey
You gotta hang your spurs up and put your riggin' away
You look back now with a wantin' eye
But brother it's all gone so you sit and cry

I suppose, there's a better way to make a livin'
To make money so i could live in luxury
But the life behind a desk in a building
Would be like a prison sentence to me

My manners are not refined or even polished
And my speech it may be crude to most you see
I guess that i was just born a dreamer
But in my life i relish pride and being free

My clothes are high heeled boots and a big hat
And the buckle on my belt i wear with pride
You might even find a snuff can in the pocket of these old wore out faded
Blue levi's

Well i'm a cowboy
On the rodeo circuit
And when it's time to ride well i bear down and try
But when i play i go to some ol' crowded bar room
And get drunk & wild along with the other guys

Well i know it can't go on like this forever
And i maybe a fool just runnin' wild through life
But it's my life and i'll live it to the fullest
And i can look back and say that it was right

And some day when my rovin' days are finally all over
Well i can picture a little home down beside a stream
And with a son and his mother sittin' by me and with love i'll help him to
Strive to reach his dream.
Good cowgirls keep their calves together *grin*

Blue eyes and frcles neath a white cowboy hat
His two bestest friends are his dog and his cat
He's one of the good guys it's plain to see
Shore enough cowboy though he's only three

There's a cute little filly she lives right next door
She'd like to brand him but he's no green horn
She'll offer him candy but he knows her game
He'll take what she gives him then be on his way

Chorus:
Blue eyes and freckles and holes in his jeans
Out in the back yard ridin' his dreams
He's uor little cowboy until the day our
[a] fences can't hold him and he'll ride away.

Vs. 3
Saturday morning he's up before dawn
Grabs his cap pistol and pulls his hat on
Today the lone ranger and him make their ride
Them outlaws better find some place to hide

Vs 4
With tears in his eyes and a scratch on his chin
His onery old cyuse done throwed him again
But a kiss and a cookie will soon ease the pain
He'll mount up and be back ridin' the range

Mama just look how our little boy's grown
He'll soon be a man with a mind all his own
And i know the hardest thing we'll ever do
Is take down the fences and just turn him loose

Well the sun came up this mornin', my ain't it a beautiful day.
Heard that highway callin', time to be on our way.
Girl i never seen the sun shine brighter, i need you to be my rainbow
Rider.
Your sweet smile can keep all the clouds at bay,
So get up, we can use a holiday.
We're gonna drive up on the mountain, clear up to the timber line.
Sleep out in the moonlight, way up their among the pines.
In a grassy meadow with the stars up above you.
I'm gonna show you how much i love you.
We're gonna leave all our worries and cares behind.
So come on rainbow rider, time to rise and shine.
We've been hangin' around this ole town too long.
Can't you hear that highway callin', the radio is playin' a traveling
Song. come on!!
We'll wake up in the mornin' have coffee at a small cafe,
Find a celebration, and listen to the guitars play.
We're gonna run in the sunshine, dance in the moonlight.
As long as you're with me everything will be just right.
I might stop to pick you a sweet bouqet.
So come on rainbow rider, let's be on our way.
Yeah, we'll go up on the mountain, all the way to the top.
We might just keep on goin' and never stop!

Headed for wyoming, in 1882..a woman, a team, and a wagon.
Gonna make our dreams come true.
Settled in the foothills of the big horn mountain slope.
Life is sweet we lived on the meat, of the deer and the antelope.
We cut house logs on the moutain, with the team we hauled 'em down.
Peeled 'em and we stacked 'em up, for a house and bought some ground.
Traded for some cattle, and turned 'em out on the range.
The skies were blue and we never knew...how things were gonna change.
Ole powder river, you're muddy and wide, how many men have died...upon
Your shores.
When you brand a man a rustler, he's gotta take a side.
There's no middle ground in this johnson country war.
Well, the neighbors stopped by yesterday, while i was outside choppin'
Some wood.
And they filled me in on the local news, ain't none of it sounded good,
Said, they'd been some cattle stealin', by some no count outlaw bands.
We'd all been branded rustler's by the big ranchers of this land.
Well it was us against the cattlemen, and the years just made it worse.
First the drought, then the tough winter, johnson county had been dealt
A curse,
Then their came the story about the two dry golgia tax.
Ranger jones and john tisdale both been shot in the back...
Oh, powder river, you're muddy and you're wide,
How many men have died upon your shores.
When you brand a man a rustler, he's gotta take a side.
There's no middle ground in this johnson county war.
Then last night at supper time, riders stopped by chance.
They said cattleman and hired guns, just burned the kaycee ranch,
Two men had died this mornin', shot down in the snow.
Now the vigilante army was marchin' for buffalo.
Well the county was in an uproar, an every man saddled up to ride.
Caught the cattlemen at the ta ranch, and surrounded all four sides.
We hailed the house with bullets and swore we'd make 'em pay.
But the calvery came across the plains, and once again saved the day.
Well, they marched 'em off to cheyenne, and no one went to jail.
The cattlemen we're all turned loose, and the hired guns hit the trail.
And i guess the only justice, wasn't much to say the least.
Last winter me and mine ate mighty fine on the cattle baron's beef.
Oh powder river, you're muddy and you're wide.
How many men have died upon your shores.
When you brand a man a rustler, he's gotta take a side.
There's no middle ground in this johnson county war.
There's no middle ground in this johnson county war

Intro
Storm clouds are building above the timber line
The lightning's flashing across the mountain side
The thunder's rollin' down the canyons of his mind
Somewhere beyond the great divide
The bugle of the bull elk echos through pines
The north wind moans her lonesome lullaby
He hungers for the freedom of an eagle as she flies
Somewhere beyond the great divide

Chorus:

He's heard the call of the wild
He's heard the call of the wild
The mountains callin' to him like a mother calls her child
He's heard the call of the wild
Livin' in the city oh it gets to be a grind
Puttin' in his hours workin' overtime
Waitin' for the day he can leave it all behind
To go somewhere beyond the great divide

Bridge:

He's got to get away from the city for a while
He's gotta answer the call of the wild
Guitar solo: (tab will come later, i'm still working on it)
Repeat chorus

Last night you told her, you could never hold her.
'cause a cowboy's just gotta be free.
Her heart was breakin', yours was achin',
But you saddled up to follow your dreams.
Coffee on your campfire, wind through the barbed wire,
You huddle close to the flames.
Though she's far behind you, the night wind reminds you.
It just keeps on whisperin' her name.
You can make a run for the border,
Try to hide up the hole in the wall.
But don't you know your arms are achin' to hold her.
And cowboy even though you're ridin' tall...
Cowboy you're riding for a fall..
Midnight the moons up, hands around your tin cup.
The frost settles in on the sage.
The nights gettin' colder, well, man you're gettin' older.
T'night you're feelin' you're age.
Well, why don't you turn back, just saddle up and backtrack.
You know you'll never find a love quite like hers.
And tell me, on a cold lonesome evenin', what the hell goods your
Freedom?
Don't you think it's time you hung up your spurs?
You can make a run for the border, try to hide up the hole in the wall.
But don't you know your arms are achin' to hold her.
And cowboy even though you're ridin' tall...you're ridin' for a fall.
Cowboy, you're riding for a fall...

Now, i

I was sittin' in bar room one rainy afternoon
Tellin' stories about rodeo and listening to a tune
The rodeo starts tomorrow in this one horse town
So joe (or name of your choice) took our names and put our entries down.i went to the office the next day to see
What bareback horse i had and to pay my fees.
I looked on the list but my name wasn't found
I thought joe might of forgot to put me down.
Well, i looked on the board and i happened to find,
My name was on another list, i was in the bull riding.
My knees began to knock and my face began to sweat,
Then i heaved and gagged on the rodeo office steps.
Well, i may be a fool but a coward i'm not,
So i borrowed a bull rope with a bell in the knot.
I walked in the arena with them other bullridin' fools,
Walked down the chutes, and found my bull.
Then i put my rope in the middle of his back,
Then had some cowboy pull up the slack,
Then i wrapped the tail around my hand and back,
And said "boys, open the gate just a little bitty crack!".
Well, the bull hit the gate with his head
And i could see over his hump that his eyes was red.
He bailed outta there with a big snort and a beller'
And somethin' inside me told me i was yeller'
The dust and hair and flies from off his hump,
Did whisk to my nose as he made another jump.
And the stink of it all was more than i could stand,
So i jerked my wrap, and opened my hand.
Well, he jumped through air as he made one more turn,
That rope slid through my hand it sure did burn.
He flang me down in a great big heap,
And right in the middle of me he did leap.
With his feet on my belly, standing in place,
That dirty ole' bull, blew snot in my face.
Well, them danged ole bulls you can run 'em the chutes,
Put your ropes on them big gallutes,
But the closest your gonna find me to their stinkin' hair,
Is to help some other fool get flung in the air.

Every time the end of the month, finally rolls our way.
We've got just enough money honey, to see that the bills get paid.
But this time we've got an extra hundred dollars and i'll tell you what
We outta do.
Let's go downtown and throw it around, and just blow it on just me and
You.
We can take the kids to your mama's 'cause our good times overdue.
We can dance all night, and do it up allright.
But before the night is through,
Let's drive down to the river, the way we used to do.
Let's take a little money honey, and blow it on me and you...
Well i've been doin' the best i can, just to bring the bacon home,
And you've been slavin' every day to make this house a home,
But i've heard that too much work, well it sure ain't good for you.
So let's take a little money honey, and blow it on me and you...
We can take the kids to your mama's, 'cause our good times overdue.
We can dance all night, and do it up right.
But before the night is through,
Let's drive down by the river, the way we used to do.
Let's take a little money honey, and blow it on me and you.
Well let's take a little money honey, and blow it on me and you...

He's got a broomstick horse called dynamite
His very favorite friend
An old steed about four hands high
That runs just like the wind
There's not an outlaw in the badlands
That he can't apprehend
Whoopie ti yo the littlest cowboy rides again

When the other kids are lost in space
In plastic rocket ships
Well he's meetin' bad guys face to face
With a big iron on his hip
Fear's a word he's heard but it don't mean a thing to him
Whoopie ti yo the littlest cowboy rides again

(chorus)
Whoopie ti yo (whoopie ti yo)
Whoopie ti ya (whoopie ti ya)
Whoopie ti yo the littlest cowboy rides again

There's a cook named mom back at the ranch
She just don't understand
That cowboys always wear their hat in the house
And they never wash their hands
They eat beef and beans not squash and greens
And don't need tuckin' in
Whoopie ti yo the littlest cowboy rides again

(key change)
He's got a hat and a badge and a chaw in his jaw
And licorice on his chin
He's kind to ladies and cats and dogs
But he's hard on wanted men
He aint the truck drivin' drug store rhinestone kind
Cause they're just all pretend
Whoopie ti [d]yo the littlest cowboy rides again

Chorus 2x in new key
Whoopie ti yo (whoopie ti yo)
Whoopie ti ya (whoopie ti ya)
Whoopie ti yo the littlest cowboy rides again

The winter wind was blowin' when we loaded that old truck
With a few things that we had and all our dreams.
With my new bride there beside me we headed down the road
I would show her places and things she'd never seen

First we went to denver, fort worth, then san antone
She cheered me on at every rodeo,
But houston finally ended and then san angelo
I didn't want to tell her but she knew that we were broke.


Chorus

But she never complained when the winnin's didn't come
She just took it all in stride,
And if i rode good or bit the dust, she was just as proud
She was happy bein' by my side

Then in california the baby started showin'
And all her clothes were gettin' way too small
We couldn't spare the money to buy her any new ones
She just wore my shirt and jeans and didn't mind at all.


And early in the mornin' we'd wake up by the roadside
I'd build a fire and she'd get out the eggs
She'd cook us up some breakfast then we'd sit down there on the grass
Lord, those were the best meals i guess i ever ate.

Chorus

Well now those days are over, and somehow we got ahead
That little gal i married's still here with me
We finally got the house we planned down there beside the stream
And all those old hard times are just cherished memories.

Chorus

She was happy bein' by my side.

Hold tight with a leather fist
Watch out when he starts to twist
That's what their daddies' used to tell them boys

How to ride them bulls
I got a jingle in my jeans
Sore places in between
And i'm leavin' on a saw blade
With a push and a pull

Chorus

10-4 buddy, come on back
A horse trailer on a cadillac
Yeah, we're talkin' to the cowboy
In the coupe de ville
Chug-a-luggin' up one side
Slidin' down the other
I'm a lover of the other side of the hill


Turn up that radio
Don't wanna think about a rodeo
Don't wanna think about a round-up
Up in old cheyenne
It's a crazy circuit
But still you work it
Turn down that sound, boys
Let's get up and check the scan

Chorus

Bandana hangin' mirror
Still wet from ear to ear
We'll, i guess it's true then
What the wise men say
When you ride your last one
Make sure he's the best one
Jump while he's movin'
Tip your hat boys and walk away

Chorus (repeat 2 times)
I'm a lover of the other
Side of the hill

Well i've never been afraid of much and never thought i need a crutch
To help me through the trials of this life
But there's one thing i cant do with out and copenhagen's what i'm talking
About and i love it nearly as much as i love my wife.

Now when i first started chewing i didn't know what i was doing
But i liked the way it helped me to relax
And a big ol' chew tastes might good just the way copenhagen should
But when its gone i'm a slobbering maniac.

Chorus
I'm a copenhagen junkie, there's a big ol' hairy monkey on my back
And he just wont let me be
Cause when i run out of chewing
I know i'm on the road to ruin
Yes that copenhagen's got a hold on me

I can go without a lot of things like sweet potatoes and butter beans
And you know if wouldn't really bother me at all
I can go without coffee for a couple of days but if you take my snuffs away
I'll be climbing like the spider up the wall.

Chorus

Well i even tried to quit one time
My knees got weak and sorta went blind and my mellow disposition headed south
I started eating like a big fat hog got wild got mean like a rabbit dog and
Start frothing and foaming at the mouth

Chorus

Can i help you sir?
Ah, yea do you got any copenhagen?
No sir i'm afraid we're all out
Ahhhhhhh

Chorus

Ahh copenhagen, it makes me feel so good
But when its gone boys, i ain't feeling exactly the way i should

Well you don't see him much on the big screen anymore
The kids don't ride along with roy or gene
And that ain't really him with all those feathers in his hat
And some frenchman's name embroidered on his jeans

Chorus:

But he's still out there ridin' fences
Still makes his livin' with his rope
As long as there's a sunset he'll keep ridin' for the brand
You just can't see him from the road

Well he never learned to two step hell he barely learned to walk
But he's worn a lot of leather off the tree
He's had one or two good horses that he counts among his friends
He never drew a breath that wasn't free

Repeat chorus:

Well he's tall in the saddle short on the cash
The last to quit the first to buy the beer
Well he's a knight in leather armor still livin' by the code
That's made him what he's been a hundred years

Repeat chorus:

As long as there's a sunset he'll keep ridin' for the brand
You just can't see him from the road

Last night we rode our broncs in seattle,
Me and bill packed the car in the pourin' rain.
Witch and john were at the beer stand, gettin' sprung.
But we got 'em gathered and hit the road again.
Chewin' snoose and spittin' in a bottle.
With country music blastin' on the radio.
Talkin' girls and broncs and gold beltbuckles.
Rollin' south to a california rodeo.
Just rollin' down that great american highway,
With the mornin' sky lit up like a flame.
Chasin' dreams and followin' a rainbow.
Like children runnin' through the rain.
Well it's rodeo time in oakdale, california.
And we stumble with the trash out of the car.
And ole bill looks at me through whiskers and wild, red eyeballs,
And says, we look more like hobo's than big-time rodeo stars.
Well we ride our broncs and we all win a little money.
And there's witch over at the beer stand again.
But look, he's got his arm around a little california honey.
An' bill says...i wonder if that lady there's got any friends.
Just rollin' down that great american highway,
With the mornin' sky lit up like a flame.
Chasin' dreams and followin' a rainbow.
Like children runnin' through the rain.
Well, the years went by and now we've all got families.
Ah, but we still get together every now and then,
And we talk about all the bad broncs and good times.
Lord, somtimes i wish i was back on that road again...
Just rollin' down that great american highway,
With the moernin' sky lit up like a flame.
Chasin' dreams and followin' a rainbow.
Like children runnin' through the rain.
Just chasin dreams and followin' a rainbow...
Like crazy children runnin' through the rain...

Ain't it funny how an ole song can take you back in time,
Bring back the memories you thought you left behind.
The melodies they never change...just get better with time.
Old melodies and memories, keep runnin' through my mind.
We'd listen to the radio to hear our favorite song,
Drivin' down a country road, we'd laugh and sing along.
When our dreams climbed as high, as any eagle dared to fly...
Old melodies and memories, keep runnin' through my mind.
That summer moon never shone so bright, as it did for us back then.
Soda pop and swimmin' holes, walkin' hand in hand.
You nearly drove me crazy when you looked into my eyes.
Old melodies and memories, keep runnin' through my mind.
We'd listen to the radio, to hear our favorite song,
Drivin' down a country road, we'd laugh and sing along.
When our dreams climbed as high, as any eagle dared to fly.
Old melodies and memories, keep runnin' through my mind.
Those old melodies and memories, keep runnin' through my mind.

Been workin' like a dawg, slavin' on the fence line,
Stretchin' those wires tight.
Diggin' and tappin' and sweatin' in the sunshine,
But i get off t'night.
I got a date with a girl, a perdy ranchers daughter,
Green as her golden hair.
Gonna pick her up at 8 after some soap and water.
And we're headin' to the county fair.
Well there's a full moon in the western sky,
And there's magic in the air.
Ain't nothin' i know of, can make you fall in love,
Like a night at the county fair.
Well, we walked through the midway, the lights and the laughter,
She puts her little hand in mine.
Well, she don't act like she knows what i'm after,
But t'night i'm gonna make her mine.
You know the tunnel of love, well it ain't my style.
So i'm gonna take on the ferris wheel.
Way up in the sky, with the stars in her eyes,
I'm gonna tell her just how i feel.
Well, there's a full moon in the western sky,
And there's magic in the air.
Ain't nothin' i know of, can make you fall in love,
Like a night at the county fair.
Well i know monday mornin', i'll be back on the fence-line,
But it'll be allright.
'cause that perdy little girl says she's gonna be all mine.
I'm gonna see her next friday night.
Well there's a full moon in the western sky,
And there's magic in the air.
Ain't nothin' i know of, can make you fall in love,
Like a night at the county fair.
Ain't nothin' i know of, can make you fall in love,
Like a night at the county fair.

When the rodeo was over, we're all go to the room.
We're drink some beer relax awhile and sing some cowboy tunes.
That old guitar we passed around, it was battered, scratched, and
Broke.
But lord it sounded mighty fine, when john ed sang "cowpoke"

Ben he

I walked behind the chute, stapped my spurs to my boots
At that big rodeo in cheyenne.
Feelin' tired and sore for a ride the day before,
And a thousand other rides since i began.
As i climbed up the gate i heard that young cowboy sayin',
Well, that ole man ain't gonna ride, and i had to smile.
I said son it ain't age that makes me look this way,
It ain't the years boy...it's the miles.
It ain't the years that i've known that have taken their toll,
'cause they've been few.
If you took all the mashin's, the draggin's and the crashin's,
You'd probably look the same way i do.
It's the million miles of road, and gettin' snatched around and throwed,
That finally put the cramp in my style.
It ain't the years boy...it's the miles.
Went on and made my ride, only scored a 65.
But you know what really made my day complete,
Was when i looked up just in time to see that young cowboy goin' flyin',
And land in a pile at my feet.
And as the first aid came to haul him away, i said son you'll be
Allright in a little while.
He's on his way to findin' out what it's all about.
It ain't the years boy...it's the miles.
It ain't the years that i've known that've taken their toll.
'cause they've been few.
If you took all the mashin's, the draggin's, and the crashin's, you'd
Probably look the same way i do.
It's the million miles of road of gettin' snatched around and throwed,
That finally put the cramp in my style.
It ain't age that made me look this way,
It ain't the years boy...it's the miles.
It ain't age that makes me look this way,
It ain't the years boy...it's the miles.

Well you mama finds it hard to understand,
Why her lovin' son wants to be a rodeo man.
And your daddy had a whole lotta great big plans for you,
You hate to disappoint him but you gotta other things to do.
Now, your best girl thinks it's time you settle down.
You finally graduated and she's ready for a wedding gown.
But there's a great big world just waintin' out there for you,
And if she really loves you she can wait another year or two.
And nobody really knows how you feel inside,
The road gets rough and the goin' gets tough, but you know you've gotta
Try.
And there ain't no way they're ever gonna change your mind.
Don't everybody know that a cowboys got to ride.
Now your highschool buddies say man, you've gone insane.
Don't you know rodeo is a crazy, foolish game.
But you can see in their eyes a little jealousy,
They're all workin' 9-5, you're footloose and fancy free.
And nobody really knows how you feel inside,
The road gets rough and the goin' gets tough, but you know you've gotta
Try.
And there ain't now way thery're ever gonna change your mind.
Don't everybody know that a cowboys got to ride.
Don't everybody know taht a cowboys got to ride...