The Cowboy Life

The cowboy life is a dreary, dreary life
Some say it's free from care
Rounding up the cattle from morning till night
In the middle of the prairie so bare

Half-past four, that noisy cook will roar
"Hey boys, it's the breaking of day"
Slowly we rise with sleepy-feeling eyes
As the short summer night passed away

The cowboy life is a dreary, dreary life
From dawn till the setting sun
Then his day's work it is not done
For there's still his night guard to go on

The wolves and owls with their terrifying howls
Disturb us in our midnight dream
When we layin' in our slickers on a cold, rainy night
Way over on the Pecos stream

The cowboy life is a dreary, dreary life
All out in the midnight rain
Punchin' cattle from morning till night
Way out on the Texas plains

Spring sets in, our troubles all begin
The weather being fierce and cold
We're almost froze from the water on our clothes
And the cattle we can scarcely hold

Now the cowboy life is a mighty dreary life
All out in the sleet and snow
Winter time comes, he begins to think
Where did his summer wages go

I once loved to roam, but now I stay at home
All you punchers take my advice
Sell your bridle and saddle, quit your rowing and travels
Tie on to a pretty little wife

You can talk about your farms and your big city charms
You can talk about your silver and gold
But the cowboy life is a dreary, dreary life
When you're driving through the heat and the cold

The cowboy life is a dreary, dreary life
All out in the heat and the cold
While the rich man is sleeping on his velvet couch
Dreaming of his silver and gold