A Cowboy’s Hopeless Love + 

I’ve heard that story ofttimes about that little chap + 

A-cryin’ for the shiney moon to fall into his lap, + 

An’ jes a-raisin’ merry hell because he couldn’t git + 

The same to swing down low so’s he could nab a-holt of it, + 

An’ I’m a-feelin’ that-a-way, locoed I reckon, wuss + 

Than that same kid, though maybe not a-makin’ sich a fuss⁠— + 

A-goin’ round with achin’ eyes a-hankerin’ fer a peach + 

That’s hangin’ on the beauty tree, too high fer me to reach. + 

I’m jes a rider of the range, plumb rough an’ on-refined, + 

An’ wild an’ keerless in my ways, like others of my kind; + 

A reckless cuss in leather chaps, an’ tanned an’ blackened so + 

You’d think I wuz a Greaser from the plains of Mexico. + 

I never learnt to say a prayer, an’ guess my style o’ talk, + 

If fired off in a Sunday School would give ’em all a shock; + 

An’ yet I got a-mopin’ round as crazy as a loon + 

An’ actin’ like the story kid that bellered fer the moon. + 

I wish to God she’d never come with them bright laughin’ eyes⁠— + 

Had never flashed that smile that seems a sunburst from the skies⁠— + 

Had stayed there in her city home instead o’ comin’ here + 

To visit at the ranch an’ knock my heart plumb out o’ gear. + 

I wish to God she’d talk to me in a way to fit the case⁠— + 

In words t’d have a tendency to hold me in my place⁠— + 

Instead o’ bein’ sociable an’ actin’ like she thought + 

Us cowboys good as city gents in clothes that’s tailor bought. + 

If I would hint to her o’ love, she’d hit that love a jar + 

An’ laugh at sich a tough as me a-tryin’ to rope a star; + 

She’d give them fluffy skirts a flirt, an’ skate out o’ my sight, + 

An’ leave me paralyzed⁠—an’ it’d serve me cussed right. + 

I wish she’d pack her pile o’ trunks an’ hit the city track, + 

An’ maybe I’d recover from this violent attack; + 

An’ in the future know enough to watch my feedin’ ground + 

An’ shun the loco weed o’ love when there’s an angel round. + 