Just A-Ridin’! + 

Oh, for me a horse and saddle + 

Every day without a change; + 

With the desert sun a-blazin’ + 

On a hundred miles o’ range, + 

Just a-ridin’, just a-ridin’, + 

Desert ripplin’ in the sun, + 

Mountains blue along the skyline⁠— + 

I don’t envy anyone. + 

When my feet are in the stirrups + 

And my horse is on the bust; + 

When his hoofs are flashin’ lightnin’ + 

From a golden cloud o’ dust; + 

And the bawlin’ of the cattle + 

Is a-comin’ down the wind⁠— + 

Oh, a finer life than ridin’ + 

Would be mighty hard to find, + 

Just a-ridin’, just a-ridin’, + 

Splittin’ long cracks in the air, + 

Stirrin’ up a baby cyclone, + 

Rootin’ up the prickly pear. + 

I don’t need no art exhibits + 

When the sunset does his best, + 

Paintin’ everlastin’ glories + 

On the mountains of the west. + 

And your operas look foolish + 

When the night bird starts his tune + 

And the desert’s silver-mounted + 

By the kisses of the moon, + 

Just a-ridin’, just a-ridin’, + 

I don’t envy kings nor czars + 

When the coyotes down the valley + 

Are a-singin’ to the stars. + 

When my earthly trail is ended + 

And my final bacon curled, + 

And the last great round up’s finished + 

At the Home Ranch of the world, + 

I don’t want no harps or haloes, + 

Robes or other dress-up things⁠— + 

Let me ride the starry ranges + 

On a pinto horse with wings, + 

Just a-ridin’, just a-ridin’, + 

Splittin’ chunks o’ wintry air, + 

With your feet froze to your stirrups + 

And a snowdrift in your hair. + 