sorry alf i just had to steal this

                                      








                 IF  YOU'RE  GOING TO BE A  COWBOY   


                                                                by


                                                            Alf Bilton

Sure as cats is senior kittens, learned dignity an' such;
If you're gonna be a cowboy, son, you'd oughtta know this much:

It ain't all fun an' freedom, big hats an' ridin' high;
Or even just in tippin' hats as you pass the ladies by.
It's lotsa work with little rest, an' lotsa lonely too;
'Cause mostly when you'd like to play, there's too much work to do.

Sure there's days out on the ranges, big part of what you'll do;
The bond between a man an' horse, an' skies of denim blue.
But it ain't all done in sunshine, there's rains an' blizzards too;
An' though you're wet, an' sore, an' cold, there's still the work to do.

It ain't all done from horseback, an' it likely never was;
There's wounds to tend an' fence to mend. It's what a cowboy does.
You'll find that you have little time for fun an' sleepin' too.
That ride to town is just too long. There's too much work to do.

There are calves to pull an' nursemaid, bad bulls to be dehorned;
There's hay an' feed to pitch an' pile; so best that you're forewarned.
It ain't quite like in movies, with the dull bits skippin' through;
Real cowboys know forever means, there's still more work to do.

There's some who feel more peace of mind out here than when in town,
An' find that lackin' luxuries don't ever get 'em down.
They see a time when sun comes up to find that now they too
Can smile as they get saddled up, 'cause they have work to do.

But :

Sure as snakes all pluck their eyebrows, an' hiss their Howdy-doos;
If you're gonna be a cowboy, son, you're gonna pay some dues.

.....