I am a Texas cowboy just off the Texas plains
My trade is cinchin' saddles and pullin' bridle rein
I can twist a la**o with the greatest sk** and ease
I can rope and ride a bronco most anywhere I please
I am a jolly cowboy from Texas now I hail
Give me my quirting pony I'm ready for the trail
I love the rollin' prairies they're free from care and strife
Behind a bunch of longhorns, I'll journey all my life
When early dawn is breaking and we are far away
We fall into our saddles, we roundup all the day
We rope, we brand, we earmark, the boss he thinks we're smart
And when the herd is ready for Kansas then we start
When we get on the trail boys, the dusty billows rise
It's fifty miles from water and the gra** is scorchin' dry
The boss is mad and rangy, you all can plainly see
I'll have to follow the longhorns, I'm a cowboy here to be
When threatening clouds together and heard a lightning's flash
And heavy raindrops splatter and rollin' thunder's crash
What keeps the herd from runnin', stampeding far and wide
The cowboy's long blown whistle and singing by their side
But when we get 'em bedded, we think it's for the night
Some horse'll shake his saddle it'll give the herd a fright
They'll bound to their feet boys, and they'll stampede away
In less than half a moment's time you'll hear some cowboy say
Oh, when we get 'em bedded, you'll feel most forlorn
The cloud'll rise in the west boys, and fire play on their horns
The boss'll say "Stay with 'em, boys", your pay you'll get in gold
I'm bound to follow the longhorns until I am too old
When we get to Abilene the boss he pays us up
We loaf around the city, we take a parting cup
Then bid farewell the city life, leave noisy crowds behind
I'm going back to Texas and that sweet little girl of mine
I'm coming back to marry the only girl I love
She said I am her darling, I am her own true love
And when we two are married no more will I roam
We'll settle down forever in our little Texas home
Oh, I am a Texas cowboy just off the Texas plains
My trade is cinchin' saddles and pullin' bridle rein
I love the rollin' prairies they're free from care and strife
Behind a bunch of longhorns, I'll journey all my life