To Hear Him Tell It + 

I was just about to take a drink⁠— + 

I was mighty dry⁠— + 

So I hailed an old time cowman + 

Who was passing by, + 

“Come in, Ole Timer! have a drink! + 

Kinda warm today!” + 

As we leaned across the bar-rail⁠— + 

“How’s things up your way?” + 

“Stock is doin’ fairly good, + 

Range is gettin’ fine; + 

I jes dropped down to meetin’ here + 

To spend a little time. + 

Con’sidable stuff a-movin’ now⁠— + 

Cows an’ hosses, too, + 

Prices high an’ a big demand⁠— + 

Now I’m tellin’ you! + 

“I’ve loaded out my feeders, + 

Got a good price all aroun’; + 

Sold ’em in Kansas City + 

To a commission man named Brown. + 

A thousand told o’ mixed stuff, + 

In pretty fair shape, too,” + 

Said the old Texas cowman, + 

“Now I’m tellin’ you! + 

“I’ve been in this yere country + 

Since late in fifty-nine, + 

I know every foot o’ sage brush + 

Clear to the southern line. + 

Got my first bunch started up + 

Long in seventy-two, + 

Had to ride range with a long rope⁠— + 

Now I’m tellin’ you! + 

“Lordy, I kin remember + 

Them good ole early days + 

When we ust t’ trail the herds north + 

’N forty different ways. + 

Jes’n point ’em from the beddin’ groun’ + 

An’ let ’em drift right through,” + 

Said the reminiscent cowman, + 

“Now I’m tellin’ you! + 

“Yessir, trailed ’em up to Wichita, + 

Cross the Kansas line, + 

Made deliveries at Benton + 

As early as fifty-nine. + 

Turned ’em most to soldiers, + 

Some went to Injuns, too, + 

Beef wasn’t nigh so high then⁠— + 

Now I’m tellin’ you! + 

“Son, I’ve fit nigh every Injun + 

That ever roamed the plains, + 

’N I was one o’ the best hands + 

That ever pulled bridle reins. + 

Why, you boys don’t know range life⁠— + 

You don’t seem to git the ways, + 

Like we did down in Texas + 

In them good ol’ early days! + 

“Yes, thing’s a heap sight diff’rent now! + 

’Tain’t like in them ol’ days + 

When cowmen trailed their herds north + 

’N forty diff’rent ways. + 

We ship ’em on the railroad now, + 

Load out on the big S. P.,” + 

Says the relic of Texas cowman + 

As he takes a drink with me. + 

“I figger on buyin’ more feeders, + 

From down across the line⁠— + 

Chihuahua an’ Sonora stuff, + 

An’ hold ’em till they’re prime. + 

So here’s to the steers an’ yearlin’s!” + 

As we clink our glasses two, + 

“Things ain’t the same as they used to be, + 

Now I’m tellin’ you! + 

“I got t’ git out an’ hustle, + 

I ain’t got time t’ stay; + 

Jes’ want t’ see some uh the boys + 

’N then I’m on my way. + 

There’s many a hand here right now + 

That I know’d long, long ago, + 

When ranch land was free an’ open + 

An’ the plowman had a show. + 

“ ’Tain’t often we git together + 

To swap yarns an’ tell our lies,” + 

Said the old time Texas cowman + 

As a mist comes to his eyes. + 

“So let’s drink up; here’s how!” + 

As we drain our glasses two, + 

“Them was good ol’ days an’ good ol’ ways⁠— + 

Now I’m tellin’ you!” + 

He talked and talked and yarned away, + 

He harped on days of yore⁠— + 

My head it ached and I grew faint; + 

My legs got tired and sore. + 

Then a woman yelled, “You come here, John!” + 

And Lordy! how he flew! + 

And the last I heard as he broke and ran + 

Was, “Now I’m tellin’ you!” + 

I won’t never hail old timers + 

To have a drink with me, + 

To learn the history of the range + 

As far back as seventy-three. + 

And the next time that I’m thirsty + 

And feeling kind of blue, + 

I’ll step right up and drink alone⁠— + 

Now I’m tellin’ you! + 