Lyrics The Old Chisholm Trail - Michael Martin Murphey

The Old Chisholm Trail

THE OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL
TRADITIONAL
Oh come along, boys, and listen to my tale
I’ll tell you all my troubles on the ol' Chisholm trail
Come a-ti yi youpy youpy yea youpy yea
Come a-ti yi youpy youpy yea
On a ten dollar horse and a forty dollar saddle
I was ridin', and a punchin' Texas cattle
We left ol' Texas October twenty-third
Drivin' up the trail with the U-2 herd
I’m up in the morning before daylight
And before I sleep the moon shine bright
It’s bacon and beans most every day
I’d just as soon be eating prairie hay
I woke up one morning on the Chisholm trail
With a rope in my hand and a cow by the tail
Last night on guard, and the leader broke the ranks
I hit my horse down the shoulders and spurred him in the flanks
Oh, it’s cloudy in the west, and a lookin' like rain
And my darned old slicker’s in the wagon again
Oh the wind commenced to blow and the rain began to fall
And it looked by grab that we was gonna lose 'em all
I jumped in the saddle an' I grabbed a-hold the horn
The best damned cowpuncher ever was born
I was on my best horse, and a going on the run
The quickest shootin' cowboy that ever pulled a gun
No chaps, no slicker, and it’s pouring down rain
And I swear, by God, I’ll never night herd again
I herded and I hollered, and I done pretty well
Till the boss said, «Boys, just let 'em go to Hell.»
I’m going to the ranch to draw my money
Goin' into town to see my honey
I went to the boss to get my roll
He figured me out nine dollars in the hole
So I’ll sell my outfit as fast as I can
And I won’t punch cows for no damn man
So I sold old baldy and I hung up my saddle
And I bid farewell to the longhorn cattle