WESTERN TUNESMITH
(ACS LM-10194)
December/1980
Produced by Al LeDoux
Recorded: Jack Clement Studios, Nashville
1.
(I DON'T WANT TO BE A) COUNTRY STAR
(Chris Ledoux)
« © '80 Lehsem Songs, BMI »
She opened up the letter from Nashville Tennessee
He said hon they like my music the songs I wrote for you and me
The boys and me just cut a record and it could hit the charts before too long
So it's gonna be a while till I can come back home
Yes I'm gonna be a country star and everyone will know my name
Oh you know I love those bright lights when I step on stage to sing
I'll be travlin' round the country with a big bus and a band
So just keep the homefires burnin' while I'm gone
And I'll get home when I can
She said hon I hear your record oh they play it everyday
And everybody really likes it so I guess your on your way
But darling please remember we all need you here at home
And the kids all miss their daddy so don't be gone too long
Yes I know that your a country star and everybody knows your name
And I know you love those bright lights when you step on stage to sing
Just remember we all love you and don't get blinded by the light
We'll just keep the homefires burnin' while you're gone
You know we pray for you each night
After six long months of goin' I guess the road just finally took its toll
Cause his songs lost all meaning and he felt so all alone
Then one night in Jackson he went out on stage to play
And the crowd stared at disbelief at the words he had to say
I don't want to be a country star it ain't the way I thought it'd be
Well it took me such a long time to know that it ain't the life for me
Cause the days can get so lonely and the nights can get so long
Lord I think that it's about time this country star went home
Yes I think that it's about time this country boy went home
**********
2.
TEN SECONDS IN THE SADDLE
(Terry S. Smith)
« © '80 Terry Smith Music, BMI »
His Stetson was faded and battered and worn
The stubble of his beard showed flex of gray
His limp was severe cause a leg had been torn
By a bronc in his rodeo days
He hung round the chutes while we waited to mount
With a vague look of longing in his eyes
He spoke very few words but he made 'em count
He was broken forgotten but wise
He said life is just like ridin' broncs it's a battle
Then he rolled a cigarette with shaky hands
Son I'll gladly take ten seconds in the saddle
For a lifetime of watchin' from the stands
[ guitar ]
I noticed the cigarette burns on his vest
And the rembrandt with a dream left in his eyes
The boys said he could have well been the best
Had not fate cheated him of his prize
Oh but I learned a lesson that I never known
From this guy who'd been busted so bad
It's better to ride even if you get throwed
Than to wind up just wishin' you had
He said life is just like ridin' broncs...
Yes I'll gladly take ten seconds in the saddle
For a lifetime of watching from the stands
**********
3.
COWBOY AND THE ROSE
(Jake Brooks)
« © '80 Prune Danish Music, BMI »
He's rugged rough and ready his lady's soft and pretty
There must be ten years difference in their ages I suppose
But you don't see any traces or sadness in the faces
Cause together they're the cowboy and the rose
Now the lone cowboy shy like a piece of humble pie
Sips a cup of coffee at the dinner where he goes
Where he waits on the lady to finish waitin' on the tables
But together they're the cowboy and the rose
She's Better Homes and Gardens he's True West magazine
How they got together the good Lord only knows
But it's not for a man to question a love that's made in heaven
And together they're the cowboy and the rose
[ guitar ]
Well the lady keeps her distance there ain't much resistance
From the rednecks and the rounders drinking half cups for the road
Cause a man will meet his maker if he ever tried to take her
Or come between the cowboy and the rose
She's Better Homes and Gardens...
Cause together they're the cowboy and the rose
**********
4.
I RIDE AN OLD PAINT
(Traditional)
« © '56 Southwind Music, BMI »
I ride an old paint I lead an old Dan
I'm goin' to Montan' for to throw the hooley ann
They feed in the coulees they water in the draw
Their tails are all matted their backs are all raw
Ride around little dogies ride around then slow
Where the fiery and snuffy are raring to go
Bill Johns had two daughters Bill Johns had a song
The one went to Denver and the other went wrong
His wife she died in a poolroom fight
Still he keeps singing from morning till night
Ride around little dogies...
[ piano ]
When I die take my saddle from the wall
Put it on my pony lead him out of the stall
Throw my bones on his back turn our faces to the west
And we'll ride the prairie that we love the best
Ride around little dogies...
**********
5.
DREAM ON COWBOY
(Don King - Dave Woodward)
« © '80 Wiljex Publishing, BMI »
Braided rope saddle soap rosin for his riggin'
A young man dreams of growing up to ride
Buckin' broncs Brahma bulls is just some wishful thinkin'
Cause that cowboy well he's still too young to ride
Leather chaps a big white hat silver spurs that glisten
Growin' up takes such a long long time
And he could ride the rankest bronc if only they would listen
How that cowboy's dreams sound a lot like mine
Dream on cowboy your trophy buckles are waitin'
You got the world by the reins and you got time on your side
Dream on cowboy there's not a thing in your way now
So don't wait till it's too late to saddle your dreams and ride
[ guitar ]
The time has past and looking back the rodeo has ended
The cowboys and the fans have all gone home
But broken hearts and broken bones and time will all be mended
But the mem'ries of this cowboy's life live on
Dream on cowboy your trophy buckles are waitin'...
**********
6.
DIRT AND SWEAT COWBOY
(Chris Ledoux)
« © '80 Lehsem Songs, BMI »
Well Lord I love this ranchin' with it's ropin' and brandin'
But I don't like that farmin' at all
It's goodby for the summer this haying's sure a bummer
And I'll be back to help you gather in the fall
Well I don't mind riding fences but them tractors are wrenches
I ain't never liked and I guess I never will
Just give me my horse and saddle or some woolies or some cattle
And turn me loose and let me ride out through the hills
Cause I'm just a cowboy a dirt and sweat cowboy
Livin' on beef steak and beans
I ain't to hard to please but Mister you better believe
I ain't never had no use for farm machines
Well there ain't much romancing in old fashioned branding
But Lordy it suits me just fine
Oh the dust and the smoke's enough to make a feller choke
But have you ever had to ride one of them old combines
Now my grandpa was a farmer a Michigan black land farmer
And he worked with them machines the whole day through
But I bet if he did some roaming through the hills of old Wyoming
He'd probably feel about the same way that I do
I reckon it's just bad fate I was born a hundred years too kate
And they say boy if you want to survive you'd better change
But as long as sagebrush grows and that old Powder River flows
I'll be a cowboy till my dyin' day
I'm just a cowboy a dirt and sweat cowboy...
Well I think I just heard a discouraging word
About them rattleing banging smoking farm machines
**********
7.
NAVAJO WRANGLER
(Jake Brooks - Tom Bessire)
« © '80 Enchantment Music, BMI »
Between Gallic and Shiprock he was born in a Hogan
And his spirit was as free as an eagle flies
Deep in the canyons out in Arizona
He broke his first pony before he turned five
He learned how to hide in the branches of the canyons
While the young riders herded the wild horses by
Then quick as a bobcat he closed in the willows
And a new crop of Mustangs were waitin' inside
He's a Navajo wrangler an Indian cowboy
And bridles and saddles just get in his way
There ain't another on the whole reservation
Like the Navajo wrangler from canyon to shay
He never breaks horses with his spurs or a saddle
Just uses a blanket and a firm gentle hand
He's known far and wide from Chenley to Red Rock
And there ain't a horse he can't ride on the Navajo land
He's a Navajo wrangler an Indian cowboy...
He's a Navajo wrangler an Indian cowboy...
**********
8.
JEANS AND GOOD LEATHER
(Terry S. Smith)
« © '80 Terry Smith Music, BMI »
White shirts and neckties the way that my check flies
Are part of what's wrong with my soul
Risin' expenses and all kinds of fences
Keep me from where I'd like to go
Work complications and stiff conversations
They sometimes drive me up the wall
Make me want to holler to hell with this collar
Walk out and just chunk it all
What I need is denims and a place to get in 'em
And walk over God's open land
And boots of good leather I'd wander wherever
I found the beauty from his mighty hands
Lots of wide open spaces and quite simple places
Tells me it's pack up and go time
Cause in jeans and good leather son I could be better in no time
I gaze in the mirror and press my face nearer
To check out the lines one by one
Round eyes that were brighter on cheeks growin' lighter
That were once so brown from the sun
As I spend starin' I find myself darein'
The image that's looking at me
To throw off the fetter and seek somethin' better
A life that's simple and free
What I need is denims and a place to get in 'em...
Cause in jeans and good leather son I could be better in no time
**********
9.
COME RIDING JOE CY
(Gary Sefton)
« © '80 Shelldrake Music, BMI »
The first time I saw him was over in Tucson when he asked how much the bronc ridin' paid
Well me and the boys we all had us a laugh when we saw that his hair was in braids
He drawed a good mount you should of seen how we used that old horse till the gun
Well I've never seen me no Indian cowboy but that feller Joe Cy was one
He's a rodeo Indian cowboy you bet and he's tough as Buffalo's hide
They say the worst kind of cayuse gets scared when he finds out he's drawed up Joe Cy
He's wild as a war dancin' ready to reach for a hand full of sweet suicide
He's a rodeo Indian cowboy for sure when they say come ridin' Joe Cy
[ guitar ]
Some feller told me he was raised up a mustang somewhere on the Montana plains
Said he'd already rode him a nightmare to hell or his spur whipped the devil half lame
The harder they try him the better he likes 'em that Joe Cy is one more good man
He's a rodeo Indian double tough cowboy and an all around rodeo hand
Well he laughed when he told me he'd traded his trophies gold buckles and saddles and stuff
For some good land and livestock to start him a school for the Indian kids sure enough
Wells he's teachin' 'em ridin' and ropin' and Joe says they're all a makin' top hands
So watch out you pale faces come National Finals we'll have one more Custer's last stand
He's a rodeo Indian cowboy you bet...
**********
10.
GET ALONG LITTLE DOGGIES
(Traditional)
« © '69 Vidor Publications, BMI »
While I was walking one morning for pleasure
I spied a young cowboy just ridin' along
His hat was throwed back and his spurs were a jingling
And as he approached he was singing this song
Yippy ti yi yo get along little doggies
It's your misfortune and none of my own
Yippy ti yi yo get along little doggies
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
[ guitar ]
Now, early in spring we'll round up the doggies
Mark 'em and brand 'em and bob off their tails
Round up the horses load up the check wagons
And follow the doggies on the lonesome old trail
Yippy ti yi yo get along little doggies...
[ harmonica ]
**********
11.
MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS
(Sharon Vaughn)
« © '76 PolyGram Int, ASCAP »
I grew up a dreaming of being a cowboy and lovin' the cowboy ways
Pursuin' the life of my high ridin' heroes I burned up my childhood days
I learned all the rules of a modern day drifter don't you hold on to nothin' too long
Just take what you need from the ladies then leave 'em
With the words of a sad country song
My heroes have always been cowboys and they still are it seems
Sadly in search of and one step in back of themselves and their slow movin' dreams
Cowboys are special with their own brand of mis'ry from being alone too long
You could die from the cold in the arms of a nightmare knowin' well your best days're gone
Picking up hookers instead of my pen I let the words of my youth fade away
Old wornout saddles and old wornout mem'ries with no one and no place to stay
My heroes have always been cowboys...
**********
12.
I DON'T WANT TO BE COWBOY ANYMORE
(Tom Kelly)
« © '80 Lehsem Songs, BMI »
Cowboys ain't never got no money
Their wild and livin' in a different world
They only care about their horse and saddle
But a cowboy dosn't keep a steady girl
The cowboy's rope and ride and drink hard liquor
They gamble givin' lady luck a whirl
They hit town well they ain't never staying
Cause a cowboy don't keep a steady girl
Cowboys ain't suppose to love one woman
Cause cowboys all got women by the score
Well if cowboys ain't suppose to love one woman
I don't want to be a cowboy anymore
[ harmonica ]
Well I've been ridin' herd for oh so long now
I've been gone on fourteen years and maybe more
But I've finally found a filly full of sunshine
So I don't want to be a cowboy anymore
Cowboys ain't got time to raise a family
Cowboys don't work jobs or mine a store
Well if cowboys don't have time to raise a family
I don't want to be a cowboy anymore
**********