While reading up on some of my favorite blogs a little while ago one of the bloggers mentioned Wyoming. https://lifeandmagicinwyoming.wordpress.com/ I looked at the gorgeous photos and immediately a line from a song, or rather a phrase from the song, which ended with: “…you know that Wyoming will be your new home…” popped into my head.
With the melody running through my mind, searching my memory banks for the rest of the song, I mentally tried on at least two other folk music ditties, but when I looked up the lyrics at [http://metrolyrics.com/ ] neither included any reference to Wyoming.
I erroneously recalled a mention of the city of Laredo. Following that lead through Google I came up with the old cowboy song ,,.“Streets of Laredo” sometimes called “The Cowboy’s Lament.” Nope, not about Wyoming.
Then I recalled a song I always liked from the 1970s….. “Oh, do you remember Sweet Betsy from Pike?” Betsy was the gal who “… crossed the big mountain with her lover, Ike.” The melody sort of fit, but they didn’t end up in Wyoming either.
Finally it came to me, the song I wanted was “Git along Little Dogies.”…yippee aye ky oh…” (or words to that effect.) It was indeed the young calves who were being taken via cattle drive to their new home in Wyoming.
Glad that was settled or I would have been frantically searching for hours.
These great songs have been performed over a good many years by artists such as Burl Ives, Johnny Cash, and The Weavers.
I will not sing for you, readers, because the only fans of my singing are my cats–who love my rendition of the good old tune sung in Waltz dance time.
“Casey would waltz with the strawberry blonde,
and the band played on….
he’d whirl cross the floor with the girl he adored,
and the band played on…
he’d get so excited he nearly ignited…
the poor girl would shake with alarm…
he married the girl with the strawberry curl–
and the band played on!”
As I was walking one morning for pleasure
I spied a cowpuncher riding along
His hat was throwed back and his spurs were a-jingling
And as he approached he was singing this song
Whoopee ti yi yo, git along little dogies
It’s your misfortune and none of my own
Whoopie ti yi yo, git along little dogies
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
Early in the springtime we round up the dogies
Mark ’em and brand ’em and bob off their tails
Round up the horses, load up the chuck wagon
Then throw the little dogies out on the long trail
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