In honor of my Dad
My dad liked music. His favorites were Jim Reeves, Willie Nelson, Anne Murray, Allison Krauss, Hank Williams, and Chet Atkins. He also liked Roy Clark. Because of my Dad, I play guitar. I had a really bad guitar, and my Dad mae me a deal when I was eleven: If I learned ALL of Willie Neslon's Red Headed Stranger album, he'd buy me a new guitar. So I did. And the lyrics to those songs still lie in my head in huge chunks.
"Don't fight him, don't spite him, just wait till tomorrow, and maybe he'll ride on again...."
Two years ago he left us. In his memory, here's one of his favorite songs, and the second to last one he wanted me to sing to him.
The Old Chisholm Trail
Come along, boys, and listen to my tale
Tell you of my troubles on the old Chisholm Trail
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay
On a ten-dollar horse and a forty dollar saddle
I'm a going to punch in Texas cattle
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay
I'm up in the morning before daylight
Before I sleep the moon shines bright
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay.
Oh, it's bacon and beans most every day
We'll soon be eating this prairie hay
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay
With my seat in the saddle and my hand on the horn
I'm the best cowpuncher that ever was born
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay
No chaps, no slicker, and it's pourin' down rain
I swear I'll never night herd again
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay
A stray in the herd and the boss said, 'Kill it'
So I shot it in the rump with the handle of a skillet
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay
I went to the boss to draw my roll
And he had me figured out, nine dollars in the hole
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay
Me and my boss we had a little spat
So I hit him in the face with my ten gallon hat
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay
I'm going to sell my horse, going to sell my saddle
'Cause I'm tired of punching these Longhorn cattle
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay
With my knees in the saddle and seat in the sky
I'll quit punchin' cows in the sweet by and by
Come a ti yi yippy, come a tee yi yay, ti yi yippy yi yay.
Labels: Dad
posted by "Ms. Cornelius" @ 5:18 PM
5 Comments:
You're really missing your dad, huh? I'm sorry.
That's a nice tribute. It's great that he got you a guitar in exchange for learning all those Willie songs. There must be nothing in the world like hearing your daughter play music you like, particularly if you've bribed her into it.
I hope my daughter wants a good guitar someday and I can make her a similar deal.
Yeah, for me to quote a cheesy song like this, I am missing him.
And nyc, you say the sweetest things. Thank you so much.
Dad's and there music....part of the memories package. My Dad was once reading his sunday newspaper when he suddenly announced to us, shockingly, that we were going to SeaWorld (in San Diego) THAT afternoon. Turns out they had musical entertainment that evening....the Son's of the Pioneers with Rex Allen Jr. as the "warm up".
We also heard lots of Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Skeeter Davis, and Patsy Page. In fact, if my Dad had had his way, my sister woulda been named Patsy.
Nice Post. Dad's live on....in us.
AAACCCK.... it should read "Dad's and THEIR music.....its Saturday....
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