“The Old Chisholm Trail” Sheet Music (pdf).
“The Old Chisholm Trail” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Lyrics: Anonymous.
Tune: Anonymous.
Come along, boys, and listen to my tale.
And I’ll tell you of my troubles on the old Chisholm Trail.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
With a ten-dollar hat and a forty-dollar saddle,
I’m going down to Texas for to punch them cattle.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
I woke up one morning on the old Chisholm Trail,
A rope in my hand and a cow by the tail.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
I started up the trail October Twenty-Third.
I started up the trail with the 2-U herd.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
I’m in my saddle before daylight,
And before I sleep, the moon shines bright.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
It’s cloudy in the west, a-looking like rain,
And my damn old slicker’s in the wagon again.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
The wind began to blow; the rain began to fall.
It looked like we was goin’ to lose them all.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
I jumped in the saddle and grabbed hold the horn:
Best damned cow-puncher ever was born.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
Oh, it’s bacon and beans most every day.
I’d as soon be eating prairie hay.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
There’s a stray in the herd and the boss said, “Kill it.”
So I shot him in the rump with the hand of a skillet.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
My feet in the stirrup and my hand on the horn,
I’m the best damned cowboy ever was born.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
I went to the boss to draw my roll.
He figgered me out nine dollars in the hole.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
A-roping and a-tying and a-branding all day,
I’m working mighty hard for mighty little pay.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
So I went to the boss and we had a little chat,
And I hit him in the face with my big slouch hat.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
So the boss says to me, “Why, I’ll fire you.
Not only you but the whole damn crew!”
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
So I rounded up the cowboys and we had a little meeting.
We all took a vote and the boss took a beating.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
So we organized a union and it’s going mighty strong.
The boss minds his business and we all get along.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
With my knees in the saddle and my seat in the sky,
I’ll quit punching cattle in the sweet by-and-by.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yi yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.
Come a ti yi yippy yippy yea.