The Mighty Longhorn Chair

Clayton King was a cattle baron With ranges like far flowin’ seas, And thousands of Texas longhorns Roilin’ around like swarms of bees. He built a huge cedar ranch house With everything he needed there, And oversaw his vast empire Right from his mighty longhorn chair. He had huge sets of longhorns, Some more that eight feet of course, On walls and over fireplaces And he even stuffed his first horse. He was the greatest of the great, His fame was everywhere— It seemed he ruled the entire world Right from that mighty longhorn chair. Still the money stampeded in And that King Ranch just beat all— They said it was the world’s biggest As it quickly did grow and sprawl. Some say he just wasted money On things that mattered so little— That he always had the finest But like Nero he just fiddled. “I am the noble Clayton King And my wealth is everywhere!” So read the engraved inscription On his still mighty longhorn chair. In those long years the dollars flowed And it seemed like it would not end— Till a first then second wife left Without leavin’ an heir or friend. Then the cattle business changed And money dried up like the creeks, This went on for years and years, Not just a few months or weeks. The vast King Ranch then did dwindle Till the day ol’ Clayton King died— What was left went up for auction— It seemed no one now cared or cried. They tore down the house and buildings And built a shopping center there— And after that final auction, I own that mighty longhorn chair.