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FOLK COLLECTION 11: The Skaggs Foundation Cowboy Poetry Collection

Date of Items: 1890-present
Register Prepared by: Randy Williams and Susan Gross, April 2004
Register Updated by: Randy Williams, 23 December 2009
Excel database transfered to MYSQL and uploaded (replacing PHP data): Colin Jackson, Fall 2010
MYSQL database updated: Randy Williams, January 2012
Linear Feet:20

Historical Note & Provenance

Folk Coll 11 is Utah State University's cowboy poetry collection. The collection, originally created by a generation donation by the L. J. and Mary Skaggs Foundation, includes books gathered during a fieldwork project in the early 1980s to document cowboy poetry in the U.S. west (see Folk Coll 11f). From this important fieldwork project came the impetus for the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering held in January 1985 in Elko, Nevada. Since that time, each January, the Fife Folklore Archives staff take the collection and Access database (that details each book, poem, author, first line and key words), to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering for offsite use. Through University purchases and generation donations from poets and collectors, this collection continues to grow.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of 20 linear feet of books on cowboy poetry, including press and self published works. The collection can be accessed through USU Libraries online catalog.


As well, poem titles and keywords found in each book in the collection are included in the database below. To use, type in the search term. Tip: Try and use an uncommon word from the poem to ensure less "hits." For instance, if you enter "boots" you will get many hits; but if you enter "bones" you will most liley get fewer "hits" or poems and find the item you seek faster. To return to the search page, click "home" at the bottom of the page.

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Poetry table.

First Previous Next Last
IDBook TitleComposerIndexPagesAuthorPoem TitleFirst LinesKeywords
23366 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 39 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Who's Riding Old Harlequin Now? They are mustering cattle on Brigalow Vale, Where the stock horses whinny and stamp; And where long Andy Ferguson, you may go bail, Is yet boss on a cutting-out camp.
23367 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 41 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Two Gossips One fox-faced virgin, word for word, repeats each sland'rous thing she's heard, And sourly smiles as scandal slips With gusto from her thin white lips.
23368 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 42 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant A Stage-Aside The fellow had an awful voice Yet sang when so requested; Whilst the long ballad of his choice Was one we all detested.
23369 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 43 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant The Devoutly Thankful Lover So Nell was married yesterday!-- Let's fill a bumper mellow, And dreain it to old Hymen's sway-- And to the lucky fellow.
23370 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 44 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant At the Church Concert Last night we saw the chairman rise, With beaming face and pleasant, He said, "I must apologise For some who are not present!"
23371 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 44 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Parlez Doucement! When low winds pass away, their memories last Longer than voices of the noisy blast; The gentle breeze that softly sighs among The scented roses sings the sweetest song.
23372 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 45 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Not "A Veteran" 'Twas in the "Hunters' Contest" Mickey had a colt to ride, Who'd jumped so well at home, you couldn't stop him if you tried:-- 'Twas not the fence that stopped him now, but on the rails there leaned, And all about the jump there stood, some photographic fiend.
23373 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 46 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Goody Two-Shoes Among our dear Australee girls Her like was never seen-- Neat and petite, from sunny curls Down to her tan bottine.
23374 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 47 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Corn Medicine "A well-bred horse! but he won't get fat, Though I've done the best I can; He keeps as poor as a blessed rat!" Said the sorrowful stable-man.
23375 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 48 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Kitty's Broom When Kitty glides into the room There I contrive to stay And watch her while she with her broom Sweeps all the dust away.
23376 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 49 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Where Willow-trees Fringe a Fairyland When the sky was the softest shade of grays, Save eastward--where glowered one fire-edged cloud-- I watched in the dawning the brown hills raise.
23377 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 50 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant A Departing Dirge Girls in town and boys out back, I've rolled up my little pack, And on June's chill wintry gales Sail from pleasant New South Wales
23378 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 51 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant At the River-Crossing Oh! the quiet river-crossing Where we twain were wont to ride, Where the wanton winds were to sing Willow branches o'er the ride.
23379 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 52 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant An Enthusiastic Sportsman Enthuses So now the Brands Seek other lands; Alack! long ere they reach 'em A fickle crowd Will cheer as loud For godly Governor Beau-champ.
23380 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 53 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Too Much Light It was a mighty snug resort, that Sydney-side hotel: A snug resort where fellows dined "not wisely, but too well"; The boarders all had gone to bed, and other men departed, When Pat suggested to his pal 'twas nearly time they started.
23381 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 54 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant At Last When I am tired, and old, and worn, And harass'd by regret; When blame, reproach, and worldlings' scorn On every side are met.
23382 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 55 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Some Other Body Somebody's horse has finished his feed, Somebody's saddle is on; But never a nigger the tracks can read, Or know where Somebody's gone.
23383 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 56 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Short Shrift I can mind him at the start-- Easy seat and merry heart! Said he, as he threw a glance At the crawling ambulance.
23384 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 57 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Envoi When the last rousing gallop is ended, And the last post-and-rail has been jumped, And a cracked neck that cannot be mended Shall have under the yew-tree been "dumped".
23385 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 58 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant A-shelling Peas Now, all the world is green andbright Outside the latticed pane; The fields are decked with gold and white, And Spring has come again.
23386 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 60 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant When Stock Go By Ah me! how clearly they come back-- Those golden days of long ago, When down the droughty Bogan track Tom came with stock from Ivanhoe!
23387 The Poetry of 'Breaker' Morant FC 11 M-58 62 Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant Butchered to Make a Dutchman's Holiday In prison cell I sadly sit, A d____d crest-falled chappie! And own to you I feel a bit-- A little bit--unhappy!
23388 FC 11 S-68 1 Hal Swift Christmas is a Birthday Party Christmast is a birthday party we celebrate every year. And happy invitations call our guests from far and near.
23389 FC 11 F-19 1 Curley Fletcher Drift Along Lonely Cowboy In the far away Heavens in distant blue skies, High above in the bright gleaming sun, Is a heaven of rest, for hte Great Master's guest, When the Round-up on Earth is all done.
23390 RU Lazy 2? FC 11 N-15 3 A.G. Nelson Sensitivity Training My sister accused me, of all people, Of being insensitive to others' feelings; She says I needed sensitivity trainin', To make my demeanor more appealing.