Special Collections and Archives

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.

Search:

Poetry table.

First Previous Next Last

ID	Book Title	Index	Pages	Author	Poem Title	First Lines
23764	I Was Raised In A Barn	FC 11 B-64	82	Mary Borm	Front Row Seat	The sale had begun when we reached the barn. The auctioneer doin' his thing. It looked like the seats were full to the eaves, Except down in front of the ring.
23765	I Was Raised In A Barn	FC 11 B-64	83	Mary Borm	Time Out	The neighbor stopped by to talk to the Boss, And he thought he'd got me outa bed. 'Cause it looked like a haystack went 'flyin' by, And most of it fell on my head!
23766	I Was Raised In A Barn	FC 11 B-64	84	Mary Borm	Walk In Beauty	May we always, walk in beauty, And help others understand. Our soul, is in the hands of God, Our heart belongs to this land!
23767	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	1	T.L. Bush	I'm A Cowboy	You ask if I'm a cowboy. Hell yes I say to that. You can't wear spurs on Reeboks, And there's a brim all round my hat.
23768	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	2	T.L. Bush	Ode To A Cowboy	Many, many years ago, It seems too long to say, All the beasts and all the birds, Just up and ran away.
23769	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	3	T.L. Bush	Just Doin' Our Job	Sure cowboys like people, We even like flowers. Just ask about horses, And we'll talk for hours.
23770	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	5	T.L. Bush	Life Ain't Just A Magazine	Life is like breakin' a good horse. You get to know it from it's head to it's tail. It's bridled and saddled and waitin', Now you've got to pick out the trail.
23771	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	6	T.L. Bush	Real Live Buckeroo Cowboy	"I'm a real live buckeroo cowboy!" At least that's what he said. Then I asked him how fast them birds was goin When they smacked into his head.
23772	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	7	T.L. Bush	Friday's Gatherin'	I'm sure glad I got to meet ya' but you see I'm runnin' late. And this is what he told me As we headed through the gate.
23773	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	9	T.L. Bush	I Reckon	Well we pulled off in Chugwater, Wyoming, I was on my way to another rodeo. I filled up my truck, got something to drink, And as I was fixin' to go.
23774	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	11	T.L. Bush	And The Barkeep Said	Now Jim Bob is a cowboy, His aunt was Susie Hill. Ol' Jim Bob didni't know her, But she left him in her will.
23775	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	14	T.L. Bush	That Time Again	You know it's too bad, and a little bit sad. That this happens to you, every year.
23776	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	15	T.L. Bush	If You're Goin' To Be A Sucker, Don't Be The All Day Kind	A cowboy was ridin' herd one night, alone about Christmas Eve. When all of a sudden he saw a bright light off in the East.
23778	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	16	T.L. Bush	Givin' The Boss A Gift	The stocks been fed a little more, every cowboy knows the reason. It's 'cause their hearts are filled with love, through out this holy season.
23779	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	17	T.L. Bush	A Cowboys Christmas Nightmare	Christmas is for children, as any cowboy knows. Kids get up and play with toys, and cowboys, they get clothes.
23780	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	18	T.L. Bush	A Special Christmas	On Christmas eve in '65, A cowboy left the ridge. A simple ride alone Judith Creek, Then cross on Humpback Bridge.
23781	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	23	T.L. Bush	The New Years Gatherin'	January is a day for fun, A time for friends to gather. They'll come from near, they'll come from far, No matter what the weather.
23782	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	25	T.L. Bush	A Cowboy Gets His Wish	A cowboy quit the ranching game, And moved into the city. He left behind his hat and boots, To wear business clothes so pretty.
23783	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	27	T.L. Bush		A cowboy that had stayed too long at a bar, staggered out and was knocked down by a big dog chasin' a cat.
23784	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	30	T.L. Bush	He Never Stood A Chance	"Jim Bob, where ya goin', Are you headin' into town?" "Jim Bob what ya' goin to do, You just goin' to mess around?"
23785	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	31	T.L. Bush	Better Look Twice	Ol' Jim Bob Jones and Hurley Brown, Went into the city. Got mystified by neon lights. And women oh so pretty.
23786	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	33	T.L. Bush	Barley's Store	Old man Barley was a friend of mine, But I never really knew it at the time. We hung around the store when I was a kid, And listen to the cowboy things he did.
23787	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	35	T.L. Bush	Judge Horses Not Women	Now cowboys, I'll tell ya' a story. It's a sad one, but won't take very long. To say women ain't right with their thinkin', Well, pardner I tell ya', is wrong.
23788	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	36	T.L. Bush	Apple Sauce	Oh! To be an apple, And hang there on that tree. I would not have to rise each day, Or chase some cow, you see.
23789	Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, and Stuff	FC 11 B-65	37	T.L. Bush	Gone Under	Now I know there ain't no reason Why you should listen to me down here. But these words I'm sayin' ain't for me So Lord could you lend an ear?