Real Cowboys Don'T Sing Honky-Tonk Songs

When cowboys sprawl 'round the camp fire after the days work is done,
They strum guitars and tootle harmonicas and sing to have fun.
Real cowboys don't sing Honky-Tonk or She Done Me Wrong stuff.
They leave that to rhinestone cowboys, considerin' it to be so much fluff!

Real wranglers sing about ropin' dogies and fixin' barbed wire fences,
Roundups, brandin' time and the magnificence of God's grand expanses.
They sing of home on the range, rodeos and dinin' on bacon and beans,
Cattle stampedes on stormy nights, the old corral and dance hall queens.

They harmonize about ghost riders in the sky who've met their fates,
Tumblin' tumbleweeds, cool water, tin cups and eatin' from tin plates.
They sing about bein' back in the saddle again and the streets of Laredo,
And belt out songs about horses named Old Paint, Ol' Dan and Tornado.

They yodel the cattle call and sing about when the bloom's on the sages,
And croon about their yellow rose of Texas and their pitiful wages.
Real buckaroos sing about Christmas in the bunk house and rye whiskey,
Cattle drives on the Lone Star and Abilene trails and a life so very risky.

They sing of the grumpy foreman and when the works all done this fall,
And tweedle about ragtime cowboy Joe and many a barroom brawl.
Real cowboys sing about ridin' the range, the chaparral and dusty trail,
And leave Hank Snow to warble about lost love, honky-tonks and landin' in jail!

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(c) 2014 All Rights Reserved
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Breidenthal Avatar
October 2, 2014 at 3:55 PM
As always, your poetry is so entertaining. I enjoyed reading this fine piece! Love the spirit! Always, Laura
Harrell Avatar
September 29, 2014 at 6:32 AM
Haha, yeah real ones alright! Awesome, Bob. That's the way I thought about cowboys, not the my woman left me and my dog deserts me stuff lol
Guzzi Avatar
September 28, 2014 at 7:47 PM
Loved it Bob here is what is thought to be the origin song for Streets of Lorado http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbWZb9ACE4o [sung for a girl instead of a boy] Light & Love
Gorelick Avatar
September 28, 2014 at 7:27 PM
Im almost in tears! You are SO good at this, Im amazed. Your rhymes are flawless. I want to know what you eat before writing one of these..beans? If so Im going to be tooting like mad..with all love and respect. BG
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace